Best Practices for Bringing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to Life
Executives from Connecticut Children’s, UNC Health, and Stanford Health Care share how they integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into the organizational culture.
// By Susan Dubuque //
DEI is about more than representation. It’s all about creating an environment where everyone feels heard, respected, and empowered. No other industry has more of an imperative to embrace DEI than health care as the path to a healthier future for everyone.
Deb Pappas, chief marketing and communications officer and executive champion for DEI Education & Awareness Pillar, Connecticut Children’s
At this year’s Healthcare Marketing & Physician Strategies Summit (HMPS23) in Austin, Texas, Deb Pappas, Connecticut Children’s; Victor Reiss, UNC Health; and Michiko Tanabe, Stanford Health Care, presented a session on integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into organizational culture. Follow-up interviews with these three seasoned professionals yield valuable insights into how health systems are making strides toward creating welcoming environments and equalizing access to health care services.
“DEI strategy is an essential part of our model of team member engagement and patient family-centered care,” says Pappas. “It’s now embedded in the fabric of who we are and how we foster a more inclusive culture for our team members, patient families, and community partners.”
Victor Reiss, vice president— Consumerism & Insights, UNC Health
Reiss stresses, “To achieve equity, we must understand and address the factors in our patients’ daily lives and our health care system that limit positive health outcomes and quality of life for all of us. There is a time and place for equity and inclusion — and it’s all the time and everywhere.”
“DEI sits at the core of Stanford Medicine’s mission and is not just a project or initiative but rather a pledge and commitment to cultivate a true sense of belonging among people of all backgrounds, and to drive meaningful systemic change,” Tanabe emphasizes.
Read on for important lessons on advancing and operationalizing DEI efforts in your own organization.