AIP BIPOC Roundtable

If you’ve ever felt like your pain wasn’t taken seriously, your care was delayed, or your diagnosis was dismissed—this conversation is for you.

BIPOC patients living with chronic illness are still being left out of critical decisions that directly shape their care. Despite growing conversations around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in healthcare, biased research frameworks and ineffective policies continue to harm the very communities they claim to serve.

This roundtable will unpack how performative DEI efforts often miss the mark, how research bias shapes your treatment options, and what real inclusion should look like—from the patient’s perspective. We'll talk about what happens when data doesn’t match lived experience and how these systemic gaps show up in everyday care.

You’ll hear from someone who’s lived it, fought back, and is actively reshaping the system—offering real-world strategies and tools that empower patients, caregivers, and advocates to create change.

This isn’t about abstract policy.
It’s about your care, your outcomes, and your voice.

You’ll walk away with:
🔹 Tools to help you advocate for yourself in biased systems
🔹 Insight into how research decisions affect real-world care
🔹 Strategies to make your voice heard in medical and policy spaces
🔹 Hope that real change is possible—and already underway

Whether you're a patient, provider, or advocate, this conversation will challenge you to think deeper about systemic change and offer clear pathways to equity rooted in lived experience, community leadership, and accountability.

Cynthia Adinig is a Marketing Specialist turned Equity Policy Advisor from Virginia, a nationally recognized health equity advocate, and the author of DEI Delusion: The Hidden Impact of Research in BIPOC Communities. After contracting COVID-19 in March 2020, she developed Long COVID—an experience that profoundly impacted both her and her son, who also lives with the condition. Their personal journeys navigating a broken healthcare system ignited Cynthia’s powerful advocacy at the intersection of race, chronic illness, and policy.

Cynthia is the co-founder of the BIPOC Equity Agency, where she helps institutions build frameworks rooted in accountability, inclusion, and patient experience. She has testified before Congress about racism in healthcare, collaborated with legislators on Long COVID legislation, and worked with major government agencies including the White House, NIH, and HHS.

She serves on the Board of Solve M.E., an organization advancing research and advocacy for ME/CFS and post-viral illnesses, and is a member of the HHS Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Long COVID. Her work and insights have been featured in TIME, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, and more.

Known for bridging policy and lived experience, Cynthia’s expertise spans legislation, nonprofit leadership, patient experience, brand perception, events, research, recruitment, and community engagement. She is committed to ensuring BIPOC patients are no longer left out of research, policy, or care.

Learn more about Cynthia here.

Jamie Nicole is a Certified Autoimmune Health Coach, Fitness Instructor, and the President & CEO of The AIP BIPOC Network. Living with Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and narcolepsy, she brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work in autoimmune wellness, advocacy, and community-led care.

She is also the Founder of The Natural HEALing Coach, where she supports clients in managing autoimmune conditions through personalized, holistic strategies.

Jamie serves on the Board of Bee Busy Wellness Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Houston, and is an Advisory Board Member for Project Sleep. Through The AIP BIPOC Network, she leads monthly roundtables, advocacy initiatives, and educational programs to support those affected by chronic illness—especially in underserved communities.

Her mission is to bridge the gap between health disparities and real-world solutions, ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds have access to informed, compassionate, and equitable care.

Learn more about Jamie here.