About Us

Valerie Ward, MD, MPH
DCCC Faculty Director

Valerie Ward, MD, MPH, is a faculty radiologist at Boston Children's Hospital, an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School (HMS), and serves as the Diversity and Cultural Competency Council (DCCC) Faculty Director, with the support of the Office of Faculty Development.

Dr. Ward's training includes a fellowship in pediatric radiology at Children's, an HMS health services research fellowship, and an MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health. She was one of three academic radiologists in the U.S. selected for a prestigious General Electric Association of University Radiologists Radiology Research Academic Fellowship (2002).

She has contributed to research in pediatric imaging technology assessment using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and low radiation dose fluoroscopy. She won a Society for Pediatric Radiology's John A. Kirkpatrick Young Investigator Award. More recently, she has undertaken research in health care disparities and co-authored a Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation grant with members of the DCCC to create an in-patient satisfaction initiative Pathways to Culturally Competent Care.

In 2004, she was awarded the Children's Hospital sponsorship to the Fellows Program of The Partnership, Inc., an organization committed to workplace diversity and inclusion through professional and organizational development. Dr. Ward received the hospital-wide 2008 Black Achievers' Award.

Dr. Ward is highly regarded for her mentoring roles in the HMS community and has been a valued research mentor to junior faculty and fellows and a mentor to premedical college students. Dr. Ward applies her expertise in child health outcomes research to the DCCC's effort to conduct important research in health outcome disparities.

"Our council has the clearly defined charge of developing and maintaining a workplace that supports and embraces diversity and culturally competency in clinical care, teaching and research on disparities in health outcomes," she says.

"Our five DCCC working groups are focusing their efforts on the unique needs of Children's, facilitating institutional goals and the delivery of health care that will result in optimal health outcomes for all children."

Michelle Gordon-Seemore
DCCC Recruitment and Retention Director

Identifying with Children's mission to serve children and the community, Michelle Gordon-Seemore joined the hospital in January 2007. As Director of Staffing and Recruitment and new Director of Recruitment and Retention for the Diversity and Cultural Competency Council (DCCC), Gordon-Seemore brings over 25 years of staffing experience and a commitment to making Children's a place of inclusion.

"Diversity to me is the inclusion of everyone," says Gordon-Seemore. "I want Children's to not only be diverse, but a workplace of choice for everyone."

Prior to working at Children's, Gordon-Seemore worked at Reebok International for 10 years and has worked in various industries including investment banking, apparel, and publishing.

As newDCCC Director of Recruitment and Retention, Gordon-Seemore will work with DCCC Faculty Director Valerie Ward, MD, MPH, on meeting the five goals set by the council. In 2007, the council divided itself into five working groups dedicated to each of the council's initiatives. In addition to co-chairing the DCCC, Gordon-Seemore also serves as a leader of the Workforce Diversity Committee, one of the five working groups. Her hope is that she and Ward will continue to partner with each working group, assisting them in successfully meeting their goals and objectives.

Gordon-Seemore is a resident of Dorchester, a community outside of Boston. She received a bachelor's in Management at Emmanuel College, and is married with two daughters, 26 and 19. Her eldest is a Boston Public School teacher and her youngest is a student at Wentworth Institute of Technology. As an extension of her desire to help others to succeed, Gordon-Seemore serves on the board of One Family, Inc., not-for-profit organization devoted to ending family homelessness in Massachusetts.

Asked what strengths and experience she brings to her role as both director of recruitment and retention for the DCCC and as director of staffing for Children's, Gordon-Seemore credits her compassion, drive, and commitment to helping others.