GME Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Dr. Hendrix completed her undergraduate education at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and then finished with a master's degree at George Mason University. She gained experience in clinical research prior to pursuing her medical degree at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where she was involved with social-justice groups and the Student National Medical Association. There, she received the Gold Humanism Award and GW SMHS Hope Jackson award. She is completing a residency with the Saint Louis University Internal Medicine Residency program. She is passionate about health equity and enjoys a weekend morning brunch as well as going to L.A.B. gym.

Dr. Chyleigh Harmon is from Syracuse, New York. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received her Doctorate of Medicine from Saint Louis University. She participated in the SLU Summer Research Fellowship for Medical Students in 2017. Outside of medicine, Dr. Harmon enjoys spending time with her nieces, cats and dogs, being a doula and birth worker, hula hooping, knitting and cross-stitching, digital photography, alpine skiing, and musical theater.

Dr. Gabriela Espinoza specializes in care for patients with eyelid abnormalities, eyelid and orbit cancer, and thyroid eye disease. She performs facial ophthalmic plastic surgery, eyelid surgery, and orbital fracture repair. She also provides nasolacrimal duct care, including endoscopic surgery for clearing blocked tear ducts – an approach that’s less invasive than traditional surgery.

Her research interests include orbital inflammatory diseases.

Dr. Espinoza is a professor of ophthalmology and the assistant dean of educational programming for the Office of Graduate Medical Education at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

She is a board member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a fellow of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.

Dr. Espinoza enjoys playing piano and guitar.

Dr. Ishak Hossain is from Tulsa, Oklahoma and is a graduate from Booker T. Washington High School. He completed his undergraduate studies in Anthropology: Global Health and Environment at Washington University in St. Louis and completed medical school at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Hossain is passionate about health equity and community health. Outside of medicine, he enjoys playing soccer and chess, attending St. Louis sporting events, and exploring the best local food spots.

Dr. John Mwangi is a pulmonary critical care specialist who sees patients in and out of the hospital, as well as in the intensive care unit. He leads a dedicated outpatient pulmonary hypertension clinic, offering advanced testing for the disease, along with follow-up treatment after diagnosis. In addition, Dr. Mwangi evaluates pulmonary function of patients prior to kidney and liver transplant surgery.

His research interests focus on issues related to pulmonary hypertension, including the connection to left heart disease, COPD and interstitial lung disease, as well as liver toxicity associated with pulmonary hypertension medications.

Dr. Mwangi is an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

He is a member of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians and Pan African Thoracic Society.

Kelvin L. Pollard, II, M.D., M.S. is a board-certified internal medicine chief resident physician and clinical instructor at Saint Louis University. Dr. Pollard earned his undergraduate degree from Austin Peay State University, and graduate degrees from both Mississippi College and Meharry Medical College. He earned his medical degree with honors from Meharry Medical College in 2019.  Dr. Pollard brings a unique skill set to his physician educator role. Before medical school, he worked as a clinical assistant scholar at Church Health and for five years as an educator in the Memphis, Shelby County and Achievement school districts. He is most interested in eradicating health disparities, providing quality, patient-centered care, and diversifying medicine through his involvement in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. In April 2022, he helped to co-chair an art fundraiser that raised over $15,000 to help implement an early-exposure program called “Little Medical School” in inner-city elementary, middle, and high schools in Saint Louis. He is married to Jennifer Pollard, and they both have committed their lives to serving the underserved, mentoring underrepresented minority youth, and promoting the importance of having a collaborative relationship with the primary care physician.

Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Intensivist, Critical Care Medicine
Associate Program Director, Emergency Medicine Residency
Director of Emergency Ultrasound
Chair, Program Evaluation Committee
Fellowship: Multidisciplinary Critical Care Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine
Fellowship: Medical Education, Saint Louis University
Residency: Saint Louis University
Medical School: University of Missouri

Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Florida
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica and Port St. Lucie, Florida
Psychiatry interests: C&L psychiatry, psychotherapy, diversity in medicine
Hobbies: Traveling, reading, taking photos of our dog Hemingway, watching HGTV, cooking Jamaican food, listening to music (Afrobeats, reggae, and dancehall)

Hometown: Anambra State, Nigeria
Undergrad: Wilberforce University - Biology
Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Bio: Dr. Okeke is the oldest of three brothers and the first doctor in his nuclear family. He has a professional interest in plastic and hand surgery.

Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Dr. William Maurice Redden received his undergraduate degree in biology from Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. He then went to Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University for his medical degree. Following medical school, he completed his adult psychiatry residency at Wake Forest University. Finally, he moved to St. Louis to pursue his geriatric-psychiatry fellowship training at Saint Louis University.

He began his career in academic medicine, and he is now an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, where he also specializes in geriatric psychiatry.

He remains enthusiastic and passionate about decreasing the negative mental health stigma and disparities in all patient populations, especially aging minorities.