Reflecting on Black History Month and bright futures including youth empowerment, education and community development

This year, to honor Black History Month, we connected with two of our African American/Caribbean Bridges BERG team members, Rakijah Galloway-Haskins and Myia Williams. Read on to discover how they promote a more inclusive and equitable environment in the workplace and find success throughout their career journeys at Northwell Health.

Rakijah Galloway-Haskins, MLS (ASCP), Clinical Laboratory Educator, North Shore University Hospital

Rakijah Galloway-Haskins began her career with Northwell in 2009 as a research laboratory supervisor at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. In this role, Rakijah managed studies on blood banking products and testing devices with FDA clearances. She also worked with the transfusion medicine team to conduct studies and publish abstracts. In 2014, Rakijah began working as a donor room supervisor at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) where she ensured efficient and effective supervision of blood collections. She was also included in direct supervision of all whole blood, apheresis, and special collections. Two years later, Rakijah began a new role as a quality manager, laboratory safety officer at NSUH, where she managed the entire quality program for her department. Currently, Rakijah is a clinical laboratory educator at NSUH, responsible for overseeing clinical student rotations in all laboratory areas, conducting orientation for new team members, performing in-service and policy updates, and overseeing team member training. Rakijah is also the co-chair of the System Laboratory Safety and Sustainable Committee, where she focuses on sustainability and streamlining environmental efforts across the laboratory service line.

In addition, she acts as a liaison to team members to promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives and educational events as part of her role in the African American/Caribbean Bridges BERG. Besides loving her role in the BERG, Rakijah is also passionate about her career growth and development at Northwell Health and feels she has been supported in many ways. She was part of the pilot cohort of the Emerging Leaders and Diversity Mentorship program in 2019, which gave her the opportunity to network across different Northwell sites and create long-lasting, positive professional relationships. Currently, Rakijah is enrolled in the Corporate MAP-IT mentorship program. She is also mentor for participants in the Northwell Community Scholars Program, which focuses on college studies across the communities we serve.

This Black History Month, Rakijah and her BERG team members are participating in pop-up book fairs, volunteer opportunities, trivia games and educational sessions to advance Black health. She says, “Black History Month is a time to learn, honor the past, and strive for a more equitable future.” She thinks about the contributions and achievements her ancestors have made throughout history, celebrating their resilience, culture and impact on society.

Myia S. Williams, PhD, Advisor, Employee Experience

Myia Williams began her career at Northwell Health in 2016 as a research analyst with a focus on health disparities at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. She worked alongside a multidisciplinary team to analyze data to inform policies and interventions that addresses gaps in healthcare access and outcomes among underserved populations. Two years later, Myia transitioned into a role as a researcher in industrial-organizational psychology at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Myia’s research focused on the challenge of developing and implementing evidence-based telehealth interventions to reduce the burden of chronic illnesses. In 2022, Myia took on the role of advisor of employee experience, where she led enterprise-wide initiatives, including employee experience and well-being surveys that provided insights into Northwell’s workforce needs. Two years later, she remains in the role, but her focus is shaping diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging through governance, research, analyses, and storytelling to foster a culture where everyone feels valued, heard and empowered to thrive.

Myia has always felt supported by Northwell in her career development. She benefited from Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program at Hofstra University, where she was able to grow her career and transition from academia to practice, applying her PhD research and skills into real-world settings. Myia also participated in Northwell’s McKinsey Accelerator Leadership Program to help strengthen her leadership capabilities and expand her impact and influence as a leader.

Myia is passionate about her role as a member in the African American/Caribbean Bridges BERG and the impact the Bridges BERG has had on her career journey. She believes that the BERG has offered her a sense of belonging, support and professional growth that she would not have found anywhere else. “Since joining the BERG, I’ve had the opportunity to engage with leaders across the organization and contribute to meaningful initiatives,” said Myia. She continued, “This experience has reinforced the importance of community and advocacy in professional spaces, allowing me to grow as an advocate for inclusion and belonging.” This Black History Month, Myia shared that she thinks about legacy and responsibility. She added, “Black history is not only confined to a single month—it’s a living, evolving narrative that deserves to be recognized and celebrated every day.”

Learn more about Northwell’s culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging –  discover a career well cared for with our Truly Inclusive team.