The Team

We’re a team dedicated to health equity

At our core, we believe in collaboration, innovation, and driving positive change to ensure everyone has a fair chance at achieving their best health.

Scientific Research

Our work addresses critical health disparities through innovative, community-focused research aimed at advancing equity.

Community Engagement

We partner with diverse communities to build trust, foster collaboration, and implement solutions that create lasting change.

Education and Advocacy

We empower communities through education and advocacy, providing the knowledge and tools to drive meaningful change.

Leadership Team

Tiarney Ritchwood, PhD

Executive Director

Dr. Tiarney Ritchwood is a clinical psychologist, tenured professor, and global health researcher dedicated to transforming the way we approach health equity. Passionate about elevating community voices, Dr. Ritchwood uses socially innovative methods to uncover and tackle the root causes of health disparities and social injustices. Through her research and programmatic efforts, she strives to create actionable solutions that position people from historically marginalized and minoritized communities for success, and pave the way for a more equitable and just world.

Kelsey Burton, PhD

Associate Director

Dr. Kelsey Burton, a Research Associate at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, advocates for health equity through community-driven research. She focuses on reducing health disparities among marginalized groups, particularly African Americans and HIV-related inequities. As part of the CREATE Team, Dr. Burton leads initiatives addressing COVID-19 and other public health challenges, emphasizing sustainable, community-focused solutions.

Mysha Wynn, MS

Executive Director of Project Momentum

Mysha Wynn is the Executive Director of Project Momentum, Inc., a nonprofit addressing health and well-being in rural communities, particularly in Edgecombe and Nash Counties, NC. With a focus on equity, Project Momentum tackles substance use, mental health, and social determinants of health through programs like Addiction Algebra, MAPSCorps, and Healing Circles. By providing services such as youth mental health counseling and substance use treatment, the organization empowers individuals and strengthens communities.

Tanisha Burford, PhD

Associate Professor at North Carolina Central University

Dr. Tanisha Burford, an Associate Professor of Psychology at North Carolina Central University, researches health equity and the impact of psychosocial stressors on Black individuals and those with low socioeconomic status. Her work explores structural racism's effects on health and develops interventions to reduce cardiovascular disease risk and improve pandemic resilience in vulnerable populations.

PARTNERS STAFF AND AFFILIATES

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