Dr. Sylvia A. Flack is Executive Director and Founder of the Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Health Disparities. She is the founding Dean of the School of Health Sciences/Professor of Nursing at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU). She also served as Special Assistant to the WSSU Chancellor. Continuing a successful career in higher education, Dr. Flack joined Winston-Salem State University in 1989 as Coordinator of the Nursing Program and was given the almost “impossible mission” of stopping the closure of the nursing program by the NC Board of Nursing, the UNC Board of governors and NC Legislators. Her efforts from 1989 to 2005 prevented the closure of the WSSU generic nursing program and increased the enrollment and programs in the School of Health Sciences and the University. Her research is in the areas of the medically underserved, health disparities, HIV/AIDS, elderly minorities and breast cancer. Dr. Flack utilized the immersion method to successfully teach students about health disparities and how to improve minority health. Dr. Flack founded the Community Family Practice and Wellness Center, an academic primary care facility located in the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem’s public housing and family services. For ten years students and faculty from the SOHS cared for over 4000 residents. In 2004 and again in 2009 she developed and led Faces of a Healthy Future: National Conference to End Health Disparities I & II, two of the nation’s largest conferences on health disparities. She has also been instrumental in securing multi-million dollars through research and training grants and other avenues. Dr. Flack has an extensive record of presentation and publications.
She serves on many communities, state, national boards and commissions in healthcare, public education, higher education and civic organizations. She consults nationally with colleges and universities on educational programs and also has served as a SACS visitor and a scientific reviewer for the United States Department of Education, NIH, DoD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), Susan G. Komen and Risk Prevention and Health Behavior (RPHB) Integrated Review Group. Past and current community boards include the Downtown Health Plaza, the Piedmont Triad Sickle and Health Services Advisory Board, Infant Mortality Coalition, Leadership Winston-Salem Board, Leadership North Carolina, HealthCare Access, Quality Improvement Committee of Center Point Human Services, the Board of Directors for Center Point Human Services Egirls, Crisis Control Ministry Board, National Strategy Alliance Building Environments for Student Success, Advisory Board to the Johns Hopkins SON for Minority International Research Training and American Heart Association, Mid-Atlantic Affiliate Board of Directors.
Dr. Flack holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from WSSU, a Master of Science in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia and Doctorate in Educational Administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Among her many award and honors she is most thankful for the 2008 Leadership in Health Disparities Award from NIH and 2010 induction into the Legacy Club of the Missionary Council for the CME Church. Her most cherished award came from the WSSU Nursing Alumni Chapter in 2005 when they named her “Most Distinguished Alumna.”
