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This week in diversity, equity and inclusion: Celebrating our diversity

The diversity in the backgrounds of our colleagues is a strength at Penn State Health, according to the latest employee engagement survey. In fact, 85% of health system employees shared that their colleagues value different backgrounds, and 87% believe the health system values employees of different backgrounds.

The Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion recognizes those who have been successful in advancing our organization’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. We are also creating maps to reflect where our employees come from, working to recognize the sexual/gender minority of our diversity and exploring a new way of encouraging patients to share their preferred pronouns.

Raudabaugh earns Inclusion Academy Diversity Champion award

Kimberly Raudabaugh, a registered nurse clinical supervisor at Penn State Health Medical Group ─ Camp Hill, has been named an Inclusion Academy Diversity Champion. She completed the Inclusion Academy Engagement Program requirements for the Champion category by attending at least nine program sessions. Raudabaugh say becoming a Diversity Champion was both a professional and personal goal, allowing her to learn more about others who are different from her and to recognize and address her own unconscious bias.

The Inclusion Academy Engagement Program offers employees who attend the sessions three recognition levels: Diversity Supporter, Diversity Advocate and Diversity Champion. Participants can also earn continuing medical education and nursing credits.

Inclusion Academy sessions help employees better understand diversity and ensure patients receive culturally responsive care. Employees can choose educational opportunities on diversity-related issues, including race, culture, ethnicity, background, experiences, religion, intergeneration, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.

Register for the next Inclusion Academy session in the Culturally Responsive Patient Care series:

  • “Addressing Culturally Related Responses to Fear, Anger and Frustration”
  • Thursday, Aug. 24
  • Noon–1 p.m.

For questions about the program, email diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Pop-up brainstorming sessions
The Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is holding two pop-up brainstorming sessions in August to gather ideas and input from employees on upcoming changes to Penn State Health’s “What’s Your Pronoun?” lanyards and a systemwide diversity map.

“What’s Your Pronoun?” lanyards discussion and brainstorming session:

  • Monday, Aug. 28
  • 3­–3:30 p.m.
  • Register

Systemwide diversity map discussion and brainstorming session:

  • Thursday, Aug. 31
  • 8:30­–9 a.m.
  • Register

August virtual background available
August is Celebrate Diversity Month. You can show your support for diversity by downloading and using a virtual background for your Zoom and Teams meetings. The August background is available from the Digital StoreFront under the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category.

 Upcoming events

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