Gator Nurse alumna Vivian Filer (BSN 1972) has never turned down an opportunity to share her pride for the culture of her community. A passionate activist, historian and storyteller, Filer was selected to guide a group of UF Health clinicians, administrators and staff — including four from the College of Nursing — through the historically Black East Gainesville community as part of an immersion experience. About 25 participants of the half-day tour were exposed to the history, culture, challenges and opportunities that are present in the historically Black East Gainesville.

Filer shared her personal experiences growing up and working in the community while immersing the group in sites that have been impactful to the local Civil Rights Movement, as well as current challenges the community faces.

A lifelong nurse, Filer shared how nurses are at the heart of health care delivery. She was also a former student of founding Dean Dorothy Smith and told a story about how she actually educated Smith during one of their first classes. Smith was teaching the nursing students about a tool used to assess patients. In recognizing skin color, the only options to select from were pink, pale or ruddy.

“That didn’t sit well with me, so I raised my hand,” Filer said. “When called on, I said, ‘Suppose the patient looks like me? Which option should I choose?’ Dean Smith asked to meet me in her office after class, where she gave me the opportunity to talk about and educate her on all the different hues of skin.”

During the tour, Filer showed how the East Gainesville community lacks infrastructure, like sidewalks, parks and public buildings. At the historic Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Pastor Gerard Duncan spoke to the group about the importance of preserving the site, which is considered the birthplace of civil rights in Gainesville. The tour ended at the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center, which preserves the art and history of African American life during racial segregation in the U.S. Filer is the chair of the museum’s board of directors.

The experience, which was led by Lakesha M. Butler, PharmD, chief diversity officer for UF Health, was held in February for the first time, with plans to make it a recurring experience open to students and others across the academic health center.

Butler said she hopes participants of the tour are better able to understand the challenges faced by the communities they serve and to, therefore, be able to tailor care accordingly.

“East Gainesville is overflowing with rich history that is often unknown by local residents, especially those transplanting to the area for educational purposes,” Butler said. “Awareness and recognition of this history provides a gateway into understanding the historical and contemporary disparities that exist, especially pertaining to health and wellness.”

The College of Nursing’s Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Global Affairs Jeanne- Marie Stacciarini, PhD, RN, FAAN, was one of the participants of the tour. She said she appreciated how Filer used her perspective as a community health nurse to engage with the group and show them the importance of connecting with patients.

“Part of my work in community engagement is meeting people where they are,” Stacciarini said. “This is important, so we are not imposing our norms and telling the community how they should be, but rather understanding and respecting them as they are. This tour was the perfect opportunity to remind us to work with and for the community.”