Sharon Nicholson Harrell, DSS, MPH, FAGD has been providing dental care to underserved children at FirstHealth Dental Clinics for over twenty years.
Harrell was announced as the first chief diversity officer in Jan. 2021 and since has established FirstHealth’s Inclusion Council that is composed of twenty-three professionals with a variety of diverse backgrounds. The Council is used to help mold the health care system’s efforts in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Harrell explained that she is looking forward to making FirstHealth the best place to work in health care.
“While there are many strategies to achieve that goal, ensuring that employees feel represented, accepted, valued, and empowered is a key component.”
However, the end goal of an inclusive environment extends beyond employees.
“FirstHealth is working to create a culture of excellence in which all patients, families, visitors, vendors, and volunteers feel connected, treated fairly and safe, and where differences are both celebrated and supported,” Harrell said.
Harrell first joined FirstHealth in 1998 as the inaugural director of dental care, and, since then, the system has been able to provide dental care to more than 29,000 underserved patients up to twenty-one years of age.
Harrell obtained her dental degree from the University of North Carolina in 1987 and completed her Advanced General Dentistry Residency at the University of Maryland Dental School in 1988. In 1990, she returned to the University of North Carolina and got her master’s in public health from the Gillings School of Global Public Health.
Currently Harrell is in the process of attaining the credential of Certified Diversity Executive.
Photo provided by magnific.comWith Mother’s Day coming up this weekend, I’d like to give a shoutout to my wonderful mom, who has done so much to shape me into the person I am today. My mom, Jeanne Meador, is a brilliant example of a selfless, in
At center, Chancellor Darrell T. Allison and Juanette Council, Ed.D., vice chancellor for student affairs, cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand reopening of Fayetteville State University's newly renovated Spaulding Building, joined by campus leaders
FCEDC has officially moved its staff and operations to 611 W. Russell St. The 35,800- square-foot center was previously home to Homemakers Furniture and Interiors. Renovations began in the fall of 2025 and are expected to be completed in the next six to eight months. Currently, FCEDC staff are working within an open 7,500-square-foot floor plan as initial improvements progress.
