Our Health Can't Weight.
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Our Health Can't Weight. *
NURSE · HEALTH EQUITY STRATEGIST - OBESITY CARE THOUGHT LEADER
Advancing health equity for everyone is my calling. Bridging the trust gap between institutions and communities most impacted by chronic disease is my super-power.
OAC Board of Directors | Subject Matter Expert on Obesity and Chronic Disease | Board Certified Coach | J&J Healthy Voices Impact Awardee | AJPM Co-Author | Dear Healthcare Provider Podcast Host
How We Work Together
W H A T I D O
Whether you need a speaker who stops a room, a coach who has genuinely lived this, or a strategic partner who understands what health equity actually requires — there's a way in.
Speaking
Keynotes and panels on obesity, weight stigma, health equity, and patient advocacy — from the White House Conference on Hunger & Nutrition to national health conferences.
B O O K M I C H E L E ↗
Coaching
1:1 and group coaching for people living with obesity, type 2 diabetes, or navigating GLP-1 treatment. Including a 6-week program built on lived experience and clinical expertise.
L E A R N M O R E ↗
Consulting
Via Village Empowerment Solutions — strategic health equity consulting for nonprofits, healthcare organizations, and pharmaceutical partners. 15+ years building multi-sector programs.
C O N S U L T W I T H M I C H E L E ↗
Podcast
Dear Healthcare Provider — where patients, providers, and policymakers have real conversations about access, care, and the issues that shape health outcomes.
L I S T E N N O W ↗
Dear Healthcare Provider
L O G O
This is the show where the conversations your doctor has after you leave the room happen out loud. Patients, providers, and policymakers — in the same room, on the same page. Michele hosts with the credibility of an RN and the perspective of a patient who has lived it.
Dear Healthcare Provider
T H E P O D C A S T
Johnson & Johnson Healthy Voices Award Recipient
ACCESS TO CARE
OBESITY & GLP-1S
HEALTH EQUITY
WEIGHT STIGMA
CHRONIC DISEASE
PATIENT ADVOCACY
C O N S U L T I N G
Village
Empowerment
Solutions
F O U N D E D 2 0 2 1 | M I C H E L E T E D D E R , C E O
Village Empowerment Solutions (VES) is a strategic consulting practice founded by Michele Tedder, MSN, RN, a nationally recognized nurse leader, health equity strategist, and trusted advisor with more than two decades of experience advancing health outcomes in communities disproportionately impacted by chronic disease.
VES helps healthcare organizations, researchers, funders, advocacy organizations, and industry partners build meaningful relationships with the communities they seek to serve. Drawing on deep expertise in public health, patient engagement, clinical research, chronic disease prevention, and community partnership development, VES bridges the gap between institutions and communities to create solutions that are trusted, culturally responsive, and impactful.
Strategic Community
Engagement
• Community trust-building strategies
• Stakeholder engagement and partnership development
• Community Advisory Board design and facilitation
• Patient and caregiver engagement initiatives
• Health literacy and community-centered communication
Facilitation, Speaking & Thought Leadership
• Strategic convenings and stakeholder facilitation
• Conference presentations and keynote speaking
• Healthcare provider education
• Community listening sessions and engagement forums
• Panel moderation and expert advisory support
Health Equity & Inclusive Research
• Clinical trial awareness and research literacy initiatives
• Inclusive research engagement strategies
• Community-informed program design
• Equity-centered implementation planning
• Patient-centered outcomes and evidence generation
Program Design & Organizational Strategy
• Chronic disease prevention and management programs
• Obesity, diabetes, and cardiometabolic health initiatives
• Curriculum and educational resource development
• Cross-sector partnership development
P A S T P E R T N E R S H I P S & E N G A G E M E N T S
Black Women's
Health Imperative
Obesity Action
Coalition
Endocrine Society
CME Outfitters
A B O U T M I C H E L E
"I bring both sides of this work. I know what it means to sit in that exam room and feel unseen. And I know what it means to be the person in the white coat who could do better."
Michele Tedder is a Registered Nurse, board certified life coach, and nationally recognized health equity advocate. For 15+ years she has been building programs, shaping policy, and showing up on stages — from community clinics to Capitol Hill — to make the case that our health cannot wait. She has lived experience with obesity and type 2 diabetes that gives her clinical work a depth no degree alone can provide. Her mother's death certificate listed "negative lifestyle" as a contributing cause. That line changed everything.
She has led a $15M federal workforce initiative, directed chronic disease strategy for the Black Women's Health Imperative, co-authored a peer-reviewed article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, and earned a board seat at the Obesity Action Coalition — all while building VES and hosting a nationally recognized podcast. She is warm, credentialed, and unapologetically herself.
T I M E L I N E
Director, Chronic Diseaseat BWHI; J&J Healthy Voices Award; speaker at Society for Women's Health Research, India Global Diabetes Summit, DiabetesSisters
2 0 2 5
Co-authored AJPM article on ending weight stigma; joined OAC Board of Directors
2 0 2 4
Launched Dear Healthcare Provider podcast; spoke at ADA ADCES Conference in Houston
2 0 2 3
Board Chair, Black Women's Policy Center
2 0 2 2
Founded Village Empowerment Solutions; joined BWHI as Senior Program Manager
2 0 2 1
Project Director, CCAC — led $15M federal health workforce initiative, 500+ community partnerships
2 0 1 6
Published Don't Let Grief Steal Your Joy
2 0 0 3
S P E A K I N G
Whether you need a speaker who stops a room, a coach who has genuinely lived this, or a strategic partner who understands what health equity actually requires — there's a way in.
Recent Engagements
2 0 2 5
Endocrine Society
Patient Perspective Panel
Panelist for Endocrine Fellows
2 0 2 5
Society for Women's Health Research
Invited Speaker
2 0 2 5
Malama Black Maternal Health Week Summit
Pittsburgh — Maternal Health & Advocacy
2 0 2 5
India Global Summit to End Diabetes
International Speaker
2 0 2 5
Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
Invited Speaker
2 0 2 3
ADA ADCES Conference
Panelist — Lifestyle Change Programs
A S S E E N I N
Media & Press
PATIENT ADVOCACY
PATIENT ADVOCACY
PATIENT ADVOCACY
ACCESS TO CARE
OBESITY & GLP-1S
HEALTH EQUITY
WEIGHT STIGMA
CHRONIC DISEASE
PATIENT ADVOCACY
G E T I N T O U C H
Let's Start a Conversation
"The fastest way to change healthcare is to change who is in the room — and what they're willing to say out loud."
Whether you're booking a speaker, exploring a consulting partnership, interested in coaching, or reaching out about media and podcast — Michele reads every message personally. Reach out below and her team will respond within 2 business days.
Inquiries welcome — national & international
S P E A K I N G
Via Village Empowerment Solutions
C O N S U L T I N G
Individual & group programs available
C O A C H I N G