02/20/2026
As we celebrate more trailblazers for Black History Month, VNA Health Group honors Dr. Herbert W. Nickens, a pioneering physician whose leadership significantly advanced diversity and equity in healthcare. Dr. Nickens served as the first director of the Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, shaping national efforts to improve health outcomes for minority communities. He later joined the Association of American Medical Colleges, where he launched Project 3000 by 2000 to increase the enrollment of underrepresented minority students in medical schools and expanded mentoring opportunities for minority physicians. His legacy lives on through several AAMC awards that celebrate individuals advancing social justice in healthcare.