Dr. Dionne A. Taylor is a public health laboratory scientist, researcher, and author whose work centers on health equity, infectious disease surveillance, and the human experience within healthcare systems. With more than a decade of experience spanning clinical care, clinical research, and public health laboratory science, she brings a unique perspective that bridges science, advocacy, communication, and compassion. Before becoming a Lead Public Health Laboratory Scientist specializing in antimicrobial resistance and infectious disease surveillance, Dr. Taylor worked in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, where her experiences profoundly shaped her understanding of healthcare, grief, empathy, systemic disparities, and the importance of human connection in moments of crisis. Dr. Taylor holds a Doctor of Health Science degree with a concentration in Infectious Disease and Population Health and has dedicated her career to advancing public health through leadership, research, policy, and education. She currently serves as Chair-Elect of the American Public Health Association Human Rights Forum and is passionate about amplifying conversations surrounding healthcare equity, communication, and patient experience. Her debut book, The Glass Barrier: Navigating the Space Between—Identity, Position, and Bias from the Pediatric ICU Front Desk, is a deeply personal and thought-provoking narrative that explores the unseen emotional and systemic realities within healthcare spaces.