Nov. 3, 2022 – With more than 15 years of leadership in community health, health equity, diversity and inclusion, Selynto Anderson, Ph.D., has been tapped to serve as Lee Health’s chief equity and inclusion officer (CEIO).

In his new role, Anderson will further Lee Health’s commitment to strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion. He’ll be responsible for championing, developing, executing and overseeing Lee Health’s social inclusion and equity strategy and programs.

Anderson will help Lee Health develop, enable, empower and formalize a culture of inclusion and belonging. He will focus on and ensure that Lee Health leverages diverse backgrounds and perspectives and develops and promotes a cultural understanding that inspires health equity and improved health outcomes.

Anderson comes to Lee Health from Self-Regional Healthcare in Greenwood, S.C., where he served as the vice president of community health and health equity/chief diversity and inclusion officer. At Self-Regional Healthcare, Anderson started as a community health educator and grew into management and other key leadership roles, including manager of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and transitional rehabilitation, director of occupational health services and director of community prevention and wellness services.

“While Lee Health has always had strong leaders focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, we elevated the role to a chief-level position because of our commitment to social inclusion and health equity throughout our organization. Selynto’s vast experience and his insight and dedication will be invaluable, making him the perfect fit for this role,” said Dr. Larry Antonucci, president and chief executive officer of Lee Health.

Anderson earned a doctorate in public health from Walden University in Minneapolis and a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a master’s degree in education from Anderson University in Anderson, S.C. Anderson also earned a certificate in diversity management in health care from the American Hospital Association and was a Thomas C. Dolan Career Accelerator Program Scholar through the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Some of his career accomplishments include leading an initiative to implement social determinants of health into the electronic health record to proactively monitor and track aspects of population health; grant writing that resulted in the implementation of a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) substance abuse program; developed policies and procedures around population health management that included health outcomes and patterns of development, and designed a Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy that addressed health disparities, health equity and the social determinants of health.

Anderson began his role with Lee Health in mid-September.

About Lee Health

Since the opening of the first hospital in 1916, Lee Health has been a health care leader in Southwest Florida, constantly evolving to meet the needs of the community. A non-profit, integrated health care services organization, Lee Health is committed to the well-being of every individual served, focused on healthy living and maintaining good health. Staffed by caring people, inspiring health, services are conveniently located throughout the community in four acute care hospitals, two specialty hospitals, outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers, primary care and specialty physician practices and other services across the continuum of care. Learn more at www.LeeHealth.org.