Making diversity, equity, inclusion a priority

The refrain is heard time and time again— to better serve patients, the industry must better reflect an increasingly diverse population.

“By building a more diverse health workforce, the United States would improve access and improve outcomes in underserved communities and for high-need populations,” Toyese Oyeyemi, co-director of the Diversity Tracker project at George Washington University, said in a recent news release.

Researchers from GWU released a study earlier this year showing that Black individuals made up between 3% and 11% of health professions in 2019 despite accounting for approximately 12% of the working-age population. Latino representation in the health professions studied ranged from 3% to 11% despite making up 18% of working-age adults. Native Americans accounted for 0.6% of the overall U.S. workforce in 2019, but their representation among the healthcare professions ranged from zero to as high as 0.9%.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the public acknowledgment of racism’s role in health disparities, and barriers to care faced by the LGBTQ+ community have put a brighter spotlight on the need for leaders to address diversity, equity and inclusion within their organizations and across the industry.

Recognizing the importance of embracing the broader issues around DEI, Modern Healthcare is introducing the inaugural listing of the Top Diversity Leaders in Healthcare, formerly known as the Top 25 Minority Leaders.

Honorees on this year’s list represent a cross section of the industry and have demonstrated a commitment to expanding and improving access to care, regardless of a patient’s race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. They’ve also served as mentors to advance diversity within the industry’s leadership ranks. Modern Healthcare is also recognizing 10 organizations that have bolstered the diversity of their workforces, including in the C-suite and in the board room.