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This week in diversity, equity and inclusion: Establishing diversity and inclusion “champions”

A diverse workforce and inclusive workplace are critical for better business decisions by organizations up to 87% of the time. One way to achieve diversity and inclusion at Penn State Health is by increasing the number of diversity and inclusion “champions” in the workplace.

Diversity and inclusion champions:

  • Encourage best practices so that everyone feels valued and respected
  • Facilitate conversations around diversity and inclusion
  • Create good relationships by recognizing the importance of having diverse cultures
  • Make anti-discriminatory practices a reality
  • Encourage collaboration and compassion between individuals

Penn State Health has established several formal diversity and inclusion champions, including the Diversity Council; three diverse patient advisory councils that focus on multicultural, disability and sexual/gender minority populations; the clinical diversity vice chairs; and the Business Employee Resource Groups. In addition, the health system has established a recognition for employees who have been successful in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.

Diversity Council

The Diversity Council consists of representatives from health system departments and entities that are advancing a diversity, equity or inclusion initiative. The Diversity Council began as the Campus Council for Diversity at Penn State College of Medicine and Hershey Medical Center and transitioned to a health systemwide organization in 2017 that included 13 clinical departments and six administrative units. As of 2023, the number of departments and units has nearly doubled to include Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hampden, Holy Spirit, Lancaster and St. Joseph medical centers, Penn State Health Medical Group, Shared Services and the Administration department.

Many Diversity Council entities will host grand rounds this fiscal year that will be open to the Penn State Health community. Reach out to your diversity council representative (see list below) to learn about their diversity-related initiatives or to suggest ways to advance diversity and inclusion.

Diverse patient advisory councils

Penn State Health has established three diverse patient advisory councils, chaired by the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, to advance non-discrimination policies and implement positive, inclusive practices that consider the needs of the affected communities. These efforts include promoting an equitable and inclusive environment for the diverse patients who receive care at Penn State Health.

Penn State Health has the following patient advisory councils:

  • LGBTQ communities (sexual and gender minority populations), established in 2017 and co-chaired (with the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) by Allyson Martin, intermediate technology educator with Penn State Health Medical Group
  • Individuals with disabilities, established in 2022 and co-chaired by Cheryl Richardson, director, Regulatory/Accreditation and Infection Prevention
  • Multicultural (racial/ethnic minority) communities, established in 2023 and co-chaired by Dr. Esteban Mercardo-Rodriquez, Palliative Care Center

Employees who have recommendations for how to improve the experiences for these three patient populations can contact the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, using the subject line “diverse patient experiences.”

Clinical diversity vice chairs

Hershey Medical Center clinical departments established a diversity vice chair or associate vice chair role that allows a physician within the department to lead the diversity efforts. These roles have been in existence for two years. The associate and vice chairs are collaboratively looking at a patient access issue to understand why diverse patients have a higher level of missed appointments.

Business Employee Resource Groups

Penn State Health established its first business employee resource group, or BERG, at Hershey Medical Center in 2010. The first BERG focused on the LGBTQ employee population and the health system has since established employee resource groups that focus on military personnel/veterans, disability, multicultural, interfaith and next generation groups.

These groups have expanded beyond Hershey Medical Center and now include Penn State Health’s four regions, with the military/veteran group also established in a fifth region.

The employee resource groups were created to:

  • Drive business outcomes, including identifying strategies for extraordinary experience for diverse patients and their family members
  • Contribute to a sense of community for diverse employees, patients and their families
  • Provide guidance on marketing and supporting relevant patient populations
  • Create mentoring and career development opportunities
  • Advance an inclusive workplace culture, including attracting and supporting a diverse employee base

During this fiscal year, the BERGs will work on increasing employee involvement and advancing an initiative for the benefit of the population each group represents.

Send an email to diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu, using the subject line, “BERG,” if you are interested in becoming involved with the one of the employee resource groups.

Recognizing employees who excel in advancing diversity and inclusion

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion can only be successful when everyone is involved. To encourage this involvement, the Excellence in Enhancing Diversity and Inclusion award was established by Penn State College of Medicine’s Kienle Center for Humanistic Medicine, but responsibility for the recognition has been assumed by the health system’s Diversity Council. The award is presented every two months (September, November, January, March and May) to highlight employees who have excelled in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in their work environment.

Employees can email diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu to nominate colleagues who enhance diversity and inclusion. Include a 500-word or less description of their achievements.

Upcoming events

Diversity Council representatives

Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Bunty Shah, MD
Department of Medicine Ayesha Ahmad, MD
Dermatology Claire Hollins, MD
Dermatology Ryan Hobbs, PhD
Emergency Medicine Angel Schuster MD
Facilities Zachary Fox
Family and Community Medicine Munima Nasir, MD
Family and Community Medicine Sarah Ines Ramirez, MD
Finance/Non-revenue Cycle Julie Nickell
Finance/Non-revenue Cycle Zuzana Safouan
Government Health Relations Kate Mohr
Holy Spirit Hospital Sr. Mary Joseph Albright
Human Resources Kiana Khuangthilath
Human Resources Becca Stuckey
Information Services Pam Reifenger
Lancaster Medical Center Vacant
Medical Center Development Peggy Marsh
Medical Group Donna Goddard
Medical Group Ruth Gundermann
Neurology Tiffany Fisher, MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology Samantha Butts, MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology Serdar Ural, MD
Ophthalmology Amanda Ely, MD
Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Henry Boateng, MD
Otolaryngology Karen Choi, MD
Pathology Catherine “Kit” Abendroth, MD
Pediatrics Claire Roden, MD
Penn State Health Medical Group practices affiliated with Hershey Medical Center Denaja Miller
Penn State Heart and Vascular Anisa Choudhry MD
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute Ruth Moore
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Maria Moran, PhD
Psychiatry Ailyn Diaz, MD
Radiation Oncology Joey Miccio, MD
Radiology Angela Choe, MD
Revenue Cycle Steph Shannon
St. Joseph Medical Center Alex Cirko
Surgery Amanda Cooper, MD

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