Meet The Team

Meet the African American Transplant Access Program Team

Dinee Simpson, MD

Dinee Simpson, MD, is the first Black female transplant surgeon in Illinois. After completing medical school at New York University, Simpson moved to Boston for a medical residency through Harvard Medical School and completed her transplant surgery fellowship training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Simpson’s clinical focus includes liver and kidney transplants. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Simpson sits on the board of directors for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, and is the diversity, equity and inclusion adviser for the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), as well as chair of the ASTS Boldly Against Racism Task Force. Dr. Simpson has a passion for establishing equity in access to transplantation among minority populations through outreach, education, advocacy and policy work, and for disparities research.

Dr. Simpson created AATAP because of her observation that the African American population does not have equitable access to transplantation, an observation that is backed by research in the medical literature.

Under Dr. Simpson’s leadership, AATAP is committed to eliminating disparities for underserved populations in relation to transplant care for kidney and liver disease. Through the development of a deeper understanding of the historical barriers and cultural concerns of the Black community, the program aims to overcome these obstacles through community collaboration and community-based participatory research.

View her complete profile here.

John E. Franklin, MD

John E. Franklin, MD, MSc, MA, a transplant psychiatrist and diversity expert at Northwestern Medicine, is an adviser to the African American Transplant Access Program. Dr. Simpson works with Dr. Franklin to provide support for patients’ behavioral health needs throughout their transplant journey.

Dr. Franklin is a professor of psychiatry, behavioral sciences and organ transplantation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, as well as the school’s associate dean for diversity, inclusion and student support. A practicing psychiatrist for more than 35 years, he has written extensively on issues in addiction medicine, organ transplantation and health disparities. Dr. Franklin’s expertise is foundational to Northwestern Medicine’s organ transplantation programs. His clinical expertise and ability to provide racially and culturally concordant care make him an invaluable member of the AATAP team.

Akansha Agrawal, MD

Akansha Agrawal, MD, is a transplant nephrologist at Northwestern Medicine and an assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology and Transplant Surgery, and of Surgery in the Division of Organ Transplantation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She completed a fellowship in nephrology and hypertension at Case Western Reserve University, followed by a fellowship in transplant nephrology at Northwestern University.

Dr. Agrawal’s interest in health equity, especially related to kidney transplantation, led her to AATAP. She regularly evaluates patients for transplant and provides follow-up care to ensure the best outcomes. Her other clinical interests include assessing potential living kidney donors and monitoring their health after their donation. Dr. Agrawal also participates in various outreach programs and social events to pursue AATAP’s mission of establishing equity in organ transplantation. She is an active member of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Nephrology.

Stephanie Young, LCSW

Stephanie Young, LCSW, is a social worker in the African American Transplant Access Program. She works with Dr. Simpson to understand patient needs and find ways to help overcome barriers that Black patients are likely to face when they navigate transplant care.

Stephanie has spent more than 8 years working with diverse populations. This gives her a unique ability to connect with patients and families. Her knowledge and experience will help educate and provide services to people in the program.

Zaundra Boyd

Zaundra Boyd is a health literacy specialist and consultant with a master’s degree in training and development. She has 20 years of extensive experience with adult literacy deliverables, including tutoring and coaching for major community adult literacy initiatives that embrace the design, development and presentation of educational programs for professional and medical health audiences. Using her expertise, positive attitude and tireless energy, Boyd promotes wellness literacy in underserved, diverse and senior populations with limited access to self-care prevention opportunities. Outside of her clinical work, she is the co-author and designer of Literacy Chicago’s program guide for volunteer tutors and author of the soon to be published Aha! Healing from the Inside Out: Approaching Integrative Health through Spirituality, Health, and WellBEing.

Sherita Holman, BSN, RN

Sherita Holman, BSN, RN, is a transplant nurse coordinator and outreach liaison at Northwestern Medicine who works with the African American Transplant Access Program. In this role, she partners with Dr. Simpson to help patients set up their first appointment for transplant evaluation in the Oak Lawn clinic.

Holman has a strong background in hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and patient education. She also is responsible for traveling to outpatient dialysis units in the Chicago area to provide transplant education to patients and staff.

The Northwestern Medicine Organ Transplant Center is the region’s leading kidney transplant center and one of the largest transplant programs in the Midwest. Our surgeons have performed more than 5,500 kidney transplants and 2,200 liver transplants, and we have one of the largest living donor kidney transplant programs in the nation.