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Shanté Jackson-Barnes is a first-generation college graduate and current Psychiatry Resident at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. With a military family background, she is deeply committed to increasing diversity within the medical community and improving access to psychiatric services for the Black and people of color communities. She graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in psychology, along with minors in chemistry and criminology. Following her graduation, she gained valuable experience working as a correctional officer at Coastal State Prison in Savannah, GA, where she advanced to the position of correctional sergeant, understanding the impact of the carceral system on minority groups. In 2019, she began her medical education at VCU School of Medicine, where she has been active in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She served as an ambassador for the Student Council on Inclusive Excellence and as president of VCU’s Chapter of the Student National Medical Association. One of her notable achievements was the creation of the Noir Network, a mentoring database designed to connect members of color with mentorship and research opportunities. Dr. Jackson-Barnes intends to specialize in child and adolescent psychiatry, advocating for mental health disparities among Black youth and emphasizing the importance of early intervention and trauma-informed care. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and cat, watching anime, and reading fantasy novels.