Research Relationship Representation Collective
Empowering Patient Voices
Our Commitment to Ethical Healthcare
At 3RC, we believe that prioritizing patient voices leads to better healthcare outcomes. Our approach fosters genuine relationships, ensuring that ethical practices are at the forefront of every interaction.
Empowering Patient Voices
Our Commitment to Ethical Healthcare
At 3RC, we believe that prioritizing patient voices leads to better healthcare outcomes. Our approach fosters genuine relationships, ensuring that ethical practices are at the forefront of every interaction.
Meet Our Team of Experts
Whether you need strategic planning, community outreach support, marketing and promotional assistance, or training programs, we offer tailored solutions to enhance your initiatives. Our team specializes in developing impactful programs, fostering community engagement, and leveraging data-driven strategies to achieve your goals. We help you maximize your reach and effectiveness—explore our services today!
Dr. Edith M. Williams-Carter, Ph.D.
Professor & Director, Center for Community Health & Prevention; Founding Director, Office of Health Equity Research, University of Rochester Medical Center
What she brings to the team:
- Strategic leadership in embedding health equity, community advisory frameworks, and patient-centered principles into institutional practice.
- Deep expertise in trial development, peer mentoring interventions, lupus health disparities, and community-based participatory research to close gaps in health outcomes.
- A trusted connector who blends scientific rigor, cultural competence, and local roots—amplifying underserved voices in public health.
Dr. Williams leads the Center for Community Health & Prevention (CCHP) and the Office of Health Equity Research (OHER) at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), merging academic leadership with community-driven public health initiatives.
A Rochester, NY native and an epidemiologist by training (M.S., Ph.D.), she brings nearly 20 years of experience in health equity research, community outreach, and disease-prevention programming.
Dr. Williams has earned competitive fellowships—such as Pfizer Health Disparities, NIH K01, and NIH R01 awards— to lead culturally tailored peer mentoring and lupus self-management interventions among diverse populations.
She also serves as an Associate Editor for the Arthritis & Rheumatology journal and has held leadership roles at the University of South Carolina (Deputy Director for Research and Sustainability for the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities) and led initiatives at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), bringing both scholarly influence and lived experience in community-centered science.
Dr. Jillian Rose-Smith, Ph.D.
Vice President & Chief Health Equity Officer, Hospital for Special Surgery
What she brings to the team:
- Organizations seeking visionary guidance and practical execution turn to Dr. Rose to align mission with measurable impact and to build a healthcare future where access, quality, and innovation meet.
- Vision and strategic leadership in health‑equity operations and data-informed outreach.
- A powerful advocate who integrates patient perspectives into organizational culture and care delivery.
Dr. Jillian Rose is a nationally recognized healthcare strategist and changemaker, helping organizations transform systems to deliver equitable, patient-centered, and high-impact care. Blending expertise in public health, social work, and organizational leadership, she guides leaders in breaking down systemic barriers, improving access, and driving measurable improvements in health outcomes.
With two decades of experience leading complex, cross-sector initiatives, Dr. Rose specializes in developing actionable strategies that unite clinical excellence with cultural responsiveness. Her work has shaped policies, influenced care models, and advanced community health at local, state, and national levels.
An award-winning leader, educator, and keynote speaker, Dr. Rose is known for creating safe, engaging spaces that foster curiosity, innovation, and collaboration. She equips healthcare teams, executives, and community partners with the tools to address disparities, build inclusive environments, and create sustainable change.
Her expertise spans strategic planning, leadership engagement, data-driven equity initiatives, culturally tailored program design, and executive coaching. Dr. Rose’s insights have been featured in national publications, international conferences, and organizational transformations that have directly impacted thousands of patients and providers.
Hetlena Johnson-McCormick, Ed.S.
Instructional Designer, Senior Professional Learning Manager & Digital Resource Coordinator
What she brings to the team:
- Expert-level tech curriculum design meeting educators’ and patients’ needs
- A certified coach who facilitates empathetic peer-support communities
- The authenticity of someone living with lupus for 25+ years, driving equity through digital innovation and education
Hetlena combines three decades of instructional design and technology leadership with powerful lived experience as a lupus advocate. Drawing on her Educational Specialist degree in Computing Technology and certifications like NSRF Critical Friends Group Coach and Google for Education Innovator, she builds engaging, accessible digital learning environments for educators and patients alike.
As a longtime volunteer leader with the Lupus Foundation of America—Hetlena is a former Chief Volunteer Officer for South Carolina and guiding the state’s volunteer network—she co-developed the South Carolina Lupus Registry and speaks nationally on patient-centered care.