The National Aphasia Association (NAA) is proud to honor the legacy of Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, a remarkable leader in speech-language pathology and health equity. Her groundbreaking work advanced our understanding of aphasia care for underserved communities and inspired a commitment to fostering change in healthcare systems.
In her memory, the NAA is launching the Davetrina Seles Gadson Health Equity Grant Program, an initiative designed to support innovative projects that address systemic inequities in aphasia care and research. This program will encourage efforts that align with one or more of the eight health equity objectives Dr. Gadson so passionately championed:
- Expand Workforce Diversity: Encourage and support a diverse healthcare workforce.
- Provide Education on Health Disparities and Health Equity: Offer training to increase awareness of health inequities in aphasia care.
- Provide Implicit Bias Training: Equip healthcare providers with tools to recognize and reduce the influence of bias.
- Use Patient-Reported Outcomes for Person-Centered Care: Focus on experiences to guide care.
- Facilitate Health Literacy for Clients and Care Partners: Improve access to clear, actionable health information.
- Engage Representative Samples in Research: Ensure diverse participation in research studies.
- Report Race and Ethnicity Data in Research Publications: Promote transparency in research demographics.
- Fund Minority Researchers and Research to Promote Health Equity: Support initiatives by underrepresented researchers to advance equity in care.
By empowering individuals and organizations to take meaningful action on these objectives, the NAA aims to continue Dr. Gadson’s legacy of advocacy and impact. Details on grant eligibility, application guidelines, and timelines will be available soon.
The National Aphasia Association is accepting gifts in Dr. Gadson’s honor in order to offer these grants.
To give online to the NAA, click here and note Dr. D. Seles Gadson in the “memorial” notation.
To give by check, make checks made payable to: NAA or National Aphasia Association with a
notation of: Dr. D. Seles Gadson memorial
Mail check to:
National Aphasia Association, Inc
5448 Apex Peakway Drive
Suite 232
Apex, NC 27502
There is an additional grant program being offered by Georgetown University. The Davetrina Seles Gadson Scholars Fund at Georgetown University honors her legacy by providing stipends and training resources to students and clinicians working on stroke recovery and brain health.
For more information, please click here.
The Davetrina Seles Gadson, PhD Scholars Fund supports junior scholars who aim to follow in Dr. Gadson’s footsteps and continue her mission to improve equity for stroke survivors. It will provide support for students, postdoctoral fellows, or clinicians conducting research or developing programs to improve outcomes for underserved individuals with stroke or other brain injuries, or for scholars from underrepresented groups to gain training on the brain basis of stroke recovery.
To give online, click here. Scroll down to the OTHER box and type in: : Davetrina Seles
Gadson, PhD Scholars Fund (GUMC)
To give by check, make checks made payable to: Georgetown University Note: Davetrina Seles
Gadson, PhD Scholars Fund (GUMC)
Mail check by U.S. Mail (USPS) to:
Georgetown University
Gift Processing
Department Number 0734
Washington, DC 20073-0734
Or Send check by UPS or FedEx to:
Georgetown University
Office of Gift Administration
2115 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20007
202-687-1690
In Summary:
We, the full and united community that are grieving the loss of this cherished colleague, are committed to extending Dr. Gadson’s legacy of compassion, scholarship, and dedication to improving outcomes for underserved communities. Reflecting her intent in the field, the NAA’s Grant and Georgetown’s Scholars fund will drive practical, transformative change.
Join us in honoring Dr. Gadson’s vision for a more equitable future in aphasia care by supporting one or both of these initiatives (NAA; Georgetown Univ). Together, we can turn her goals into lasting change.