Tené Hamilton Franklin

Tene provides strategic, operational, and organizational leadership that grows capacity for intercultural competence, nurturance of diverse populations, and inclusive leadership across the organization. She consults on community engagement and public health strategic approaches to addressing health equity in local communities.

Prior to joining Health Leads, Tene served as the Director of the Tennessee Department of Health Office of Minority Health and Disparities Elimination (OMHDE). In this position, Franklin was responsible for promoting continuous improvement for disparities elimination by enabling cooperation and collaboration among minority communities and disparate populations with the Tennessee Department of Health programs and services. Under Tene’s leadership, the OMHDE helped other Tennessee Department of Health divisions, offices and agencies identify, assess, and address health disparities. The office also provided oversight and guidance for the Office of Faith-Based Health Initiatives that engaged faith community organizations to help address health disparities in their communities.

Previously, Tene served as a genetic counselor at Meharry Medical College, in Nashville, TN, helping to provide support to families with members with disorders including Sickle cell disease. She has also served as a genetic research consultant for the Vanderbilt University Center for Genetics and Health Policy in Nashville. During her tenure at both the University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics in Philadelphia, PA, and the Tuskegee University Center for Bioethics in Tuskegee, AL, Tene served as a project director for NHGRI funded efforts exploring the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of the Human Genome Project.