Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD
Executive Director
Karen Winkfield is a radiation oncologist specializing in the treatment of hematologic and breast malignancies. As the executive director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, she leverages her expertise as an implementation scientist to focus on improving health outcomes through community-engaged research and community-based initiatives.
Dr. Winkfield is a nationally recognized thought leader whose previous roles have focused on developing bi-directional communication between researchers and the community. She obtained her M.D. and Ph.D. degrees at Duke University and completed her residency at Harvard. She has served as a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021to the National Cancer Advisory Board.
Kelly Blankenship, MPS
Program Manager
Kelly Blankenship manages the Interprofessional Education program and coordinates the Meharry-Vanderbilt Student Alliance, two long-standing programs that facilitate interinstitutional and interdisciplinary collaboration and partnership between students at Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University.
She holds master’s degree in organizational leadership from Lipscomb University and a bachelor’s degree in sign language interpreting from the University of South Florida. Her prior experience includes more than 12 years of administrative and programmatic nonprofit leadership in both the education and health sectors, where she has specialized in managing collaborative partnerships.
Nia Bright
Associate Program Manager
Nia Bright works alongside the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance’s program managers to support programs, events, and community initiatives. In her role, she provides logistical and administrative support for internal and external activities, helping to coordinate and execute initiatives across the Alliance.
Born and raised in Nashville, Nia earned a bachelor’s degree in health services management from North Carolina A&T State University. She is driven by supporting initiatives that strengthen partnerships and create meaningful experiences for the communities MVA serves.
Ethan Crews, BS
Program Manager
Ethan Crews plays a pivotal role in setting and realizing the strategic direction of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, supporting both institutions as they strive to meet the MVA mission. He brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, cross-functional partnerships, and program management to his role. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he is passionate about fostering partnerships that drive positive change in our communities.
Calandra Whitted, MSPH, PhD
Senior Social Scientist
Calandra Whitted provides evaluation and strategic planning support for the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance’s programmatic activities. She also supports the Vanderbilt partner of the National Cancer Institute-funded Meharry Vanderbilt Tennessee State Cancer Partnership, which builds research capacity between the institutions to support cancer research.
Dr. Whitted is a proud alumna of the MSPH program at Meharry Medical College and holds a Ph.D. in from Florida A&M University. She is currently a Human Genetics Scholar at the American Society for Human Genetics and a member of the Center for Health Behavior and Health Education at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Terri Woodmore, MS
Communications Specialist
Terri Woodmore helps promote awareness of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance’s activities across various channels, including publications, digital platforms, and social media. She has held previous communications roles in higher education and healthcare non-profit settings. A Nashville native, she has both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Middle Tennessee State University.
Morgan Zialcita, MPH
Program Manager
Morgan Zialcita is the community engagement program manager for the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance and works to strengthen partnerships between academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and community stakeholders throughout Middle Tennessee. With more than a decade of experience in public health, community engagement, and program management, she has led local, statewide, and national initiatives focused on community outreach, strategic planning, and partner engagement. She holds a master’s degree in public health from Meharry Medical College and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tennessee State University.
