Theme: Crossing Paths: The Power of Connection & Collaboration

TEDxRushU will provide a platform for the brightest minds to converge and inspire. We are committed to creating an event where participants are challenged to communicate their passions in an exciting and engaging dialogue. Speakers will present their forward-thinking ideas and all participants will leave the conference inspired and empowered to create positive change.

This specific talk, "Crossing Paths: The Power of Connection & Collaboration" features speakers telling their stories about their unique experiences of how crossing paths with people has shaped the trajectory of their life. We invite you to join and listen to these inspiring talks with us!

Rush University
600 S Paulina St
Fifth Floor
Chicago, Illinois, 60612
United States

David Ansell

General Internist

David Ansell, MD, MPH is a general internist, a social epidemiologist and Senior Vice President for Community Health Equity at Rush University Medical Center

Ismael El-Amin

Entrepreneur

Ismael is a father of four who utilized his software engineering background to revolutionize the parent carpool.

Janice Asare

Ph.D.-trained Industrial Organizational Psychologist

Janice Z. Gassam Asare, Ph.D. is the founder of BWG Business Solutions, an award-winning DEI consultancy designed to help organizations create cultures built on racial equity. Dr. Janice facilitates workshops, provides guidance, delivers keynote speeches and “Awareness Talks” to spark important dialogue about racial equity in the workplace. Dr. Janice has had the opportunity to collaborate with Google, Amazon, Yale University, Nordstrom, H&M, and Paypal/Venmo among many others. Dr. Janice is the author of two best-selling books, Dirty Diversity: A Practical Guide to Foster an Equitable and Inclusive Workplace for All and The Pink Elephant: A Practical Guide to Creating an Anti-racist Organization and one forthcoming book, Decentering Whiteness in the Workplace, which will be released through Berrett-Koehler publishers in 2023. She is a senior contributing writer for Forbes having authored over 350 articles.

Laura Vater

Writer, Advocate for clinician health, and an Oncologist

Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH, is a writer, advocate for clinician health, and an oncologist at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. She believes that patients deserve to be treated as whole human beings, and that clinicians deserve the same. In 2022, her writing was featured in Pulitzer-Prize winning author Anna Quindlen’s book, Write for your Life. She is also a member of the Pegasus Physician Writers at Stanford University and has published a number of narrative medicine essays. In 2017, she developed a tool to help patients and clinicians prioritize their health (The SMILE ScaleTM). This tool is being used in clinics and classrooms across the world. Dr. Vater earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Doctor of Medicine from Indiana University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Oncology at Indiana University.

Simeon Henderson

alk Show host, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach, Actor and Author

From growing up on the westside of Chicago in one of its toughest neighborhoods, overcoming bullying, Abuse, Violence and A learning disability. To becoming an on air TV personality for WCIU CHICAGO, Talk Show host, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach, Actor and Author. Simeon has also been the key note speaker at numerous commencement ceremonies, team building workshops and motivational seminars. Simeon was determined to prove people wrong. Simeon has been featured in the Crescent Magazine for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. with Civil rights activist and former United States Representative John R. Lewis for his work as a community leader. Simeon has also Starred and Co-Starred in major TV series like Chicago PD, Chicago Fire and Empire, movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime, TUBI and BET. Simeon is determined to leave a positive impact on this world and all those that he comes in contact with. Simeon's Moto is always BESIMBOLIC which means "Simply Your Best".