August 2026
Above: Mafe Chase, RN, is a quality assurance nurse at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
Every patient deserves care that recognizes their individual needs and supports the best possible health outcomes. For Mafe Chase, RN, that belief inspired a project aimed at improving how caregivers identify pressure injuries in patients with darker skin tones.
As a quality assurance nurse at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Mafe joined Providence’s Health Equity Fellowship to address a gap in care that can contribute to delayed recognition and treatment of hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
Through the fellowship, she developed educational tools, training materials, videos and surveys designed to help bedside nurses strengthen their assessment skills.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the level of engagement from nurses, who were very eager to learn more and get practical tools to improve their assessments,” Mafe says.
Supporting better outcomes through education
Early identification of pressure injuries is an important part of patient care. By giving nurses additional resources and education, Mafe hopes to support more consistent assessments and help improve outcomes for patients who may be at greater risk of delayed diagnosis.
Her interest in the topic began while earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and grew through collaboration with colleagues who share a commitment to health equity.
“I feel grateful for my collaborators. Together, we brainstormed many ideas for this project but decided on this one,” Mafe says. “It’s a big deal for hospitals to reduce pressure injuries.”
While the project is still ongoing, Mafe sees it as an important step toward creating lasting improvements in how care is delivered.
“Systemic change should start somewhere,” she says. “Ultimately, my goal is to move from measuring outcomes to creating systems where we’re intentionally equitable in everything we do."
A fellowship that inspires innovation
For Mafe, the Health Equity Fellowship offered more than project support. It provided a space for collaboration, mentorship and shared learning among caregivers committed to advancing equitable care.
“There was so much friendship and camaraderie between the fellows,” Mafe says. “The health equity leadership really supports everyone equally — it’s not just a class where you sit down and listen, it’s a motivational and inspirational venue for caregivers.”
As health care organizations across the country work to address disparities in care, projects like Mafe’s highlight how caregiver-led innovation can help create better outcomes for every patient.
Related news:
- See more of our services at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
- Learn how Providence Medford Medical Center is paving the way for future medical professionals.
- Read a story on "Voices of Black Women" and their positive experiences with Providence Cancer Institute.
