Today we’d like to introduce you to Chavaza D. Brown, MBA, CPL.
Hi Chavaza D., thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Well, I regularly spent a lot of time in California up until I was about 14 years old. A large portion of my dad’s family lived out there. Although, the bulk of growing up was down south; California and the Bay Area greatly influenced me and singlehandedly shaped my social perspective and outcome in life. That regular exposure in California taught me a lot and developed my mix of Down South and Bay Area culture.
My mother birthed me much later in life (in her early 40’s), so growing up for me was very traditional, very formal and very structured with a lot of reinforced discipline (even community-wide discipline). At that stage of her life, she was in full personal maturity, so I became a by product of formalities, huge focus on character, professionalism, respect, and spirituality. I think a huge aspect of why I meshed and bonded so well with my federal government career is because it had a lot of synonymous aspects in the way I was raised. Plus my mother is a huge fan of what I did in National Security and she personally wants me to retire from the agency.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, I don’t think I would have wanted a smooth road, because had I been given a smooth road I wouldn’t have firmly developed personal or spiritual strength, extremely high mental toughness, resiliency and drive, focus and direction, a moral compass, and the needed stamina to continually last or withstand. Without some degree of pushback or resistance, I wouldn’t have the necessary tools to not only make it to a certain plateau; but I also wouldn’t have had the essential tools necessary to long-term maintain any level I would’ve achieved. It really, truly takes a very strong person to strive or thrive in rare environments that may be unfamiliar to many; and you have to already have been cultivated (very early on) and built (beforehand or way before success hits) to last lifelong (with a strong support system and trusted team of people). That’s my take on that.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Since 2018, I’ve had the opportunity to become licensed to work in optical and optometry for the world’s largest vision company. As such, I participated in an Ambassador role for our global initiative program called One Sight. This is a global initiative and world-wide charitable foundation that aims to eliminate uncorrected or poor vision in a generation by creating substantial access where it doesn’t exist, raising awareness about the importance of good vision, and through innovation to catalyze greater engagement and resources to inspire wide-spread systems change across various focus areas (optometry, ophthalmology). Through this employer, I’ve been fortunate enough to have much of my optical education completed via the Harvard University corporate training platform, and receive credit towards additional certifications and credentials in optometry and ophthalmology.
Uncorrected poor vision affects 2.7 billion people around the world and this initiative I was blessed to be a part of seeks to foster ongoing ophthalmic care where needed. The optical laboratory aspect of my role has afforded me the opportunity to learn and explore firsthand the cutting edge technology that we use to slow the effects of myopia in children’s eyesight. This randomized clinical trial of children aged 6-12 years old has clinically-proven to slow myopia progression by 71% on average over the course of just two years. Again, it deeply warms my heart to know that I can contribute to the vitality, access, and health of so many lives. Healthcare has become a ministry for me in many components. I feel like I’m creatively and non-traditionally doing God’s important work by blessing countless people in many of these ways I continually serve, and it makes me happy.
Last week, I had a 95 year old optical patient who unbeknownst to me, drove herself to the optometry eye clinic that I work in to have me assist her with all her optical screenings and vision care needs. She’ll be 96 years old in August, lives alone, has full mobility, full health, and a very sharp mindset. She lives with 50 percent of her vision due to an artificial eye implant. Yet, I find joy in knowing that I’m a critical component to ensuring the remaining parts of her lifestyle can continue flourishing because I was able to help her along her journey and at a very vital chapter in her life. Patient experiences such as her often make my day, and give me renewed meaning for living life and doing what I do.
For the past three years, I’ve been a part of Breast Cancer Research that involves radiology, oncology, and nuclear medicine. Being in that role I have had a chance to understand radiopharmaceutical on the frontline, and how the detection and treatment of diseases are accomplished at a cellular level. On a daily average our hospital clinic has 120 patients visits for mammography related procedures. Additionally, the radiology team also performs procedures related to bone density health disorders or treatment. The most intriguing part of my role is supporting the Breast Care Center TMIST research study. The Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST) is a research study with a focus on discovering breast cancer in patients who aren’t experiencing any symptoms.
One patient who recently visited the Breast Care Center was a 17 year old high school patient. Seeing her patient file pass through my desk gave me major pause and made me deeply reflect on the importance and true meaning of life. Those moments build empathy, deepens compassion, and promotes love for humanity and humankind.
I enjoy supporting the mobilization team that mobilizes the hospital research mobile bus taking breast cancer screenings and other related services directly to various communities (in the field) that can include demographics such as low income, at-risk, uninsured, rural, poverty status, or areas where healthcare isn’t accessible or readily available. Many (and oftentimes all) of the services provided are free to said communities who fall within this category. It is very rewarding having a critical role in advancing the research, treatment and cure of breast cancer with cutting edge technology at a top ranked institution.
I also find joy in knowing that I’ve played an integral role in getting seniors their pharmacy medication free or at low cost to those living on fixed incomes or experiencing financial hardship or challenges. Helping pharmacy patients gain the necessary hospital visits, insurance approvals, prior authorizations, explaining medication formulary, working through controlled substances guidelines, or acquiring needed insurance benefits has been gratifying to me, and many of these contributions I’ve been able to assist with have too become ministry to me. Via training and certification through the American Pharmacist Association I’ve been able to administer over 100 vaccinations to date to both children and adults in a pharmacy setting.
One of my most memorable moments was at the Emory University, School of Medicine, working in the Infectious Diseases Department during the prime of the COVID-19 pandemic. There I served in a senior-level role playing a very vital part in helping to advance research, analysis, and funding for different aspects of infectious diseases clinical trials and research studies. Much of my responsibility additionally included effectively aiding in the management of a research budget of $29 million dollars allocated to research funding in parts of the United States and Papua New Guinea. Essentially, the goal here was to provide aid, and to promote and foster healthcare to those who critically need it and are in dire health situations. In this role I also served in the Executive Management Team (EMT) Leadership Group; a key member of the Leadership Operations Center; and served as a direct support to the Emory School of Medicine Chairperson; and the Emory Vice President of Research. I met weekly with upper-management decision-making leaders and executives of the National Institute of Health, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Supporting Emory physicians and other physician-scientists (PhD/MD) within the national consortium network. Furthermore, I supported and worked directly with the FHI360, which is a prominent international nonprofit organization focused on improving health, health education, awareness, and livelihoods worldwide; operating in over 50 countries utilizing evidence based research. Additionally, I supported the ongoing efforts and operations of various Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units (VTEUs). Miscellaneously, I also had the opportunity to successfully complete the Emory Human Resources toolkit training program for HR EEO representatives to add to my professional portfolio that God has allowed me to steadily build. So this experience was very valuable in many ways.
Although, I have received a ton of awards, acknowledgements, and honors; the best award is knowing that I’ve been a major blessing to someone who has crossed my path. For me it’s the intangible blessings in life that holds the most importance and greatest relevance. That’s because I never want to get lost in the material, tangible blessings I keep receiving (I don’t want to lose myself or lose focus; even so much so I find myself vetting everything I encounter or give access to). I’m very grateful to God for allowing me to gain so many varying skill-sets and multiple credentials and certifications in so many various backgrounds, because it has allowed me to explore so much of life; touch so many lives; and to live out my dream of being all that I can possibly be in life with absolutely no limits or no restrictions at all. In my mind; if I can think it or dream it; then I can absolutely do it or become it, while regularly subtracting (and regularly soul searching) anything that would ever be a hindrance or distraction to me reaching said goals. I easily become resilient and locked-in. I enjoy living life with no limitations on any dream or desire I may pursue. I’m thankful that I’ve been able to touch an aspect of every profession or every career industry I’ve ever had interest in doing so. That’s a great feeling and great level of satisfaction I’ve found. Recently, I have taken my medical training and clinical knowledge and have begun a healthcare component of my foundation whereby I’ve begun offering free health screenings to members of the community I serve via my foundation.
Because I’ve had such profound impact in so many wide ranging areas of healthcare and improving the health of many lives; my plan is to ideally serve in a PRN status in many of these roles as I navigate retirement in the federal government. I have found deep passion in the countless contributions I’ve made to my many roles in healthcare; however my federal government career is where both my passion and my calling is resident; and at that intersection is where my professional life comes full circle. I look forward to the 16+ additional years of service I get to give to serving the United States, and safeguarding and protecting intelligence, National Security, and the Homeland of our country.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
For me, when I think about the deserving credit of individuals who walked into my life; I think about all of my life’s experiences in totality. For example, everything that could range from attending an HBCU to attending an Ivy League college; working in corporate America or federal government; and everything in between. And when I sum all of that together I reflect and realize that outside of God’s help; people from all walks of life have been a huge blessing to me. That’s irrespective of race, age, religion or culture; people have been a blessing to me and that constantly humbles me and keeps me accountable to the sources of my help. My help hasn’t come from just one sect or group of people, but the masses of individuals I meet and that’s why I have so much love in my heart for just humankind in general because of my/those life experiences.
Image Credits
Chavaza Brown
