Ashyrra Dotson, a native of Dorchester County, MD has been a positive advocate for Minority Health and Health disparities for the past 15 years. Ms. Dotson transitioned from her position with Associated Black Charities as the Community Health Strategist and Program Director for all Dorchester County programs and services in 2017 and has since, with her partner –Joyce Opher, established Eastern Shore Wellness Solutions, Inc. – a community based, non-profit, health education and training organization serving Dorchester, Talbot and Caroline Counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. As President and CEO, Ashyrra continues to cultivate partnerships within the community along with developing strong inroads with Health Care systems and providers, social organizations and civic groups, service agencies as well as faith and other community based organizations.
Mrs. Dotson manages multiple grant-funded service programs and provides managerial oversight of the grants management for the organization; all of which has allowed Eastern Shore Wellness Solutions to continue to gain tremendous experience and build valuable collaborative relationships that support the outreach efforts of identifying and developing solutions for Health Equity and closing the disparity gaps, specifically among marginalized populations in and around Dorchester County. In addition to the above, Ashyrra leads the mission in building a framework for education and outreach in the areas of Diabetes, Hypertension and Obesity awareness through the reduction of socio-economic barriers that impact communities of color.
Mrs. Dotson, coordinates Dorchester County’s 1st team of authentic, Community Health Outreach Workers and is actively involved in laying the groundwork for relationship building between the communities served and the services needed. Ashyrra is a respected and well known part of the Dorchester community for her role in care coordination, resource connection, intervention and prevention strategy development, and for convening and facilitating advocacy priorities among and for communities of color with both local and state policy makers.
Ms. Dotson sits in a position of responsibility with the Dorchester Community Wellness Coalition, and serves as the Co-Chair and Executive Board member for the Dorchester Community Partnership for Children and Families (formerly the Local Management Board). Additionally, she serves the interests of the community by having a seat at the table for many other organizations including the MD Food Bank Regional Council, Visions America C.D.C. Executive Board and the Regional Living Well Advisory Board where her work reaches further into the community serving the underlying needs of those individuals and communities challenged by health disparities.
Ashyrra has completed the intense Community Leadership Training under the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and has her Master’s in Social-Psychology. Mrs. Dotson is supported in her work by her husband of 29 years, her 4 wonderful children and 10 beautiful grandchildren.
Through the birth of Eastern Shore Wellness Solutions, Ashyrra is imprinting the community with a greater sense of trust for the work they do in building the relationships that influence change in the lives of those they serve.