Dr. Sherri Onyiego Spills the Tea on Community-Rooted Value Based Care

Today on HITea With Grace, I’m honored to introduce you to Dr. Sherri Onyiego, MD, PhD, FAAFP, Senior Medical Director at Equality Health—a powerhouse leader who’s redefining Value-Based Care (VBC) with a bold focus on health equity, primary care, and Medicaid innovation. In this episode, Dr. Onyiego walks us through her impressive career path and breaks down what truly effective VBC looks like. We unpack how Equality Health empowers providers and communities through a model built on enablement, partnership, and culturally attuned care. You’ll hear us chat about: What “Value-Based Care” really means—and why it’s time to restore the term’s meaning. The Equality Health model: a Medicaid-focused VBC enabler that supports PCPs, partners with health plans, and wraps care around patients through outreach and navigation. Why independent primary care providers are essential to delivering better, more personalized care. The role of Medicaid in VBC conversations and why equity starts there. How community health workers are key to closing gaps and creating trust. The impact of AI on patient engagement and care team efficiency in a VBC framework. What “enablement” really means—and why providers need it to succeed in today’s care models. We also get personal. Dr. Onyiego shares how she works best, how she overcomes challenges, and what advice she has for women rising in healthcare and health IT. Don’t miss this inspiring, deeply relevant conversation on what it really takes to make value-based care work—for everyone.