Cecelia C. Henry, MS, RN
Biosketch
Cecelia C. Henry (Cece) is the inaugural Scientific Diversity Advisor for the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.
In this position, Ms. Henry is responsible for coordinating activities, serving as principal advisor, negotiating recommendations and actions on special initiatives/projects involving diversity and inclusion issues as they impact the organization's programs that support the creation of a diverse and inclusive biomedical, clinical, and/or social and behavioral science workforce. She leads a variety of programs designed to address diversity and inclusion issues for the Clinical Center with specific focus on disparity issues related to the underrepresentation of racial, ethnic, and other specific groups.
Previously, Ms. Henry served as co-chair of the NIH Clinical Center Nursing Department Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council (CCND DEI) and currently serves on the NIH Antiracism Steering Committee (ARSC) and the NIH Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Black Engagement Committee.
During her time as co-chair of the CCND DEI Council, Ms. Henry provided consultative and resource support for the formation of similar employee-focused DEIA councils in other HHS agencies and provided consultation and/or presentations for STEM- focused scientific pipeline programs such as Emory University’s EDGE Program and Howard University’s NIH Health Professions Diversity Program. In past roles at other organizations, Ms. Henry served as a consultant in policy and legislative bill development, developed a health improvement program proposal for underserved populations in collaboration with leading church organizations, and developed a workplace violence prevention program in collaboration with county law enforcement.
Ms. Henry earned an MS in Health Services Leadership and Management, Executive Practice, from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She also holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership from Cornell University and a certificate in Business Analytics from the Wharton Business School.
Ms. Henry received the 2020 NIH CEO Award for her leadership in creating an education program for rapid training of registered nurses to support the NIH Critical Care COVID-19 Initiative and the 2021 NIH CEO Award for creation and leadership of the NIH Clinical Center Nursing Department Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council. Her academic honors include membership in Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Theta Tau honor societies.
Her special interests include health equity and health care policy as it relates to health disparities.