Chara Stewart Abrams is the System Director of Community Health and Health Equity at CHRISTUS Health, an international Catholic, not-for-profit health system. Since joining in 2020, Chara has led system-wide strategic alignment for community health and health equity, securing nearly $4 million in grants for 30 AmeriCorps members, including Community Health Workers, and streamlining community benefit operations. Previously, as the Administrative Director for the Department of Psychology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, she improved workflow efficiency by 35% and converted 3,800 electronic mental health records. Chara also directed the Cancer Control Outreach Center at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, securing a $2.7 million cancer health disparities grant. She has served as Board Secretary for the National Association of Health Services Executives, chair of the AHA Nova Awards, and is a member of the Catholic Health Association’s Community Benefit Advisory Committee. Chara's awards include two consecutive honors from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and the ACHE Regent’s Award for Excellence in Diversity. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and a Master of Public Health and is a member of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chara-stewart-abrams-mphChara Abrams, MPH
System Director, Community Health and Health Equity
CHRISTUS Health
Chara Stewart Abrams is the System Director of Community Health and Health Equity at CHRISTUS Health, an international Catholic, not-for-profit health system. Since joining in 2020, Chara has led system-wide strategic alignment for community health and health equity, securing nearly $4 million in grants for 30 AmeriCorps members, including Community Health Workers, and streamlining community benefit operations. Previously, as the Administrative Director for the Department of Psychology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, she improved workflow efficiency by 35% and converted 3,800 electronic mental health records. Chara also directed the Cancer Control Outreach Center at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, securing a $2.7 million cancer health disparities grant. She has served as Board Secretary for the National Association of Health Services Executives, chair of the AHA Nova Awards, and is a member of the Catholic Health Association’s Community Benefit Advisory Committee. Chara's awards include two consecutive honors from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and the ACHE Regent’s Award for Excellence in Diversity. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and a Master of Public Health and is a member of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chara-stewart-abrams-mph