Seeing the World with a Healthy Dose of Curiosity
and Seek Guidance from a Trusted Health Provider
by Annette Pinder
Shannon Bryant is excited to serve as Kaleida Health’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Shannon was always interested in working with people, including individuals with a mental health diagnosis, and those with special needs.
“When I was young I volunteered for SABAH, an organization dedicated to working with children with disabilities that initially began with an ice-skating program. “It was the first time I truly experienced people’s intellectual and physical differences.” She received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University at Buffalo, and a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Canisius College.
Shannon’s interest in mental health and healthcare is not surprising. Her mom, a registered nurse, is a nursing supervisor at Terrace View Long Term Care. “My parents wanted me to have diverse experiences and encouraged me to choose my own path, without any pressure to live up to their expectations.”
Shannon has two children of her own now with her husband, whom she met in high school — Her son Solomon is five, and daughter Maxwell (Maxie) is three. “Being a mom is the best thing I have ever done,” says Shannon. “They teach me so much!” As her parents did with her, Shannon is learning to allow her own children to make choices. She recounts a story while driving one day with Solomon and Maxie in the back seat. “They wanted me to let them control the windows. Solomon asking Maxie, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if mom would share some of the power she has by letting us control the windows?’” Hesitant, Shannon acquiesced. When it began to rain, they immediately made the windows go up. She says, “Even with young kids, it’s important for parents to empower them to make good choices, and see the results of their actions.”
Shannon’s first real job was at Evergreen Health, where she worked for seven years, initially as an assistant in the transportation program and then as a director of clinical care coordination. “I fell in love with Evergreen’s culture and philosophy. Everyone who walked through the door was welcome. There was always room, whoever you were. That outlook helped shape my career,” said Shannon. After Evergreen, Shannon worked at Person-Centered Services as a director of learning, development, and diversity.
Now at Kaleida Health, and based at Buffalo General Medical Center, Shannon is doing a lot of listening. She is helping define and operationalize what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean by contemplating, “With so many different types of people and perspectives from different backgrounds, how do we understand and move in the in the same direction?” Shannon is working to address issues surrounding age, disabilities, gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, religious and spiritual affiliation, sexual orientation, socioeconomic differences, veterans issues, and more. She says, “We cannot advance the health of the community without addressing these issues.”
Shannon also talks about the awakening of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion following the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. She says, “We need to acknowledge natural tensions to create positive change and transformation.” She recalls an opportunity she had to work at the Erie County Holding Center for a short while, working with prisoners, social workers, parents, judges, and lawyers, and all of those issues were at the forefront, saying, “It was a tension of opposites.”
In order to be knowledgeable and effect change, Shannon has had to commit to leading a diverse life. “You have to walk the walk, in order to talk the talk,” she says. Now, she is meeting with many groups of people at Kaleida – the leadership team, health providers, and others to help determine strategies for moving forward to create positive change and understanding.
Shannon considers herself fortunate in being able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. “I was worried about side effects at first, but I definitely did not want to get the virus.” She tells anyone who is reluctant to consult with a trusted health provider, rather than seeking information on the internet.
Shannon stays healthy by practicing yoga, meditation, running, and eating a healthy diet. She has even participated in a couple of half-marathons. She says that one of the most important things she has learned in life is the importance of pursuing her interests with a healthy dose of curiosity and optimism. She says, “I have learned that it is important to see the glass as half-full, not half-empty. I have also learned to find gratitude in life’s lessons, even if they aren’t always convenient or pleasant.”
