As one of ACHE’s four core values, diversity and inclusion is integral to ACHE’s mission and daily work, and we are committed to creating a more diverse healthcare leadership. Our chapters have been helping to demonstrate this commitment through numerous programs and initiatives.
Recognizing Chapter Accomplishments in Diversity
Each year, Regents-at-Large recognize chapters that actively demonstrate a commitment to and successful implementation of significant diversity and inclusion efforts within the chapter, community and the healthcare management field. The following chapters were recipients of the 2021 Regent-at-Large Awards, which were given during the annual Chapter Leaders Conference in October.
CT Association of Healthcare Executives
During the past two years, the CT Association of Healthcare Executives saw the challenges of the pandemic as an opportunity to strengthen its engagement with the communities it serves and to offer its members strategies for improving diversity, inclusion and equity efforts.
The chapter held discussions with local experts in public health, healthcare leadership and diversity to come up with ideas for dealing with the pandemic, and it conducted a DEI climate survey to measure its progress in diversifying its membership and examine opportunities for improvement. One idea was to launch a video series to promote the value of ACHE membership and chapter engagement. Leaders in the video series shared how the chapter has helped their professional growth and how it fosters diversity among its members. The chapter’s DEI efforts continue to evolve to meet the ever-changing nature of the challenges faced by healthcare leaders.
American College of Healthcare Executives of Central Florida
The American College of Healthcare Executives of Central Florida embraces and embodies diversity and inclusion, which translates into increased engagement of diverse members. This includes reviewing the chapter’s board and membership demographics and taking steps to promote diversity, such as having a diversity and inclusion chair and an award and events with a diversity focus. For example, the chapter’s annual Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizes a healthcare leader within the chapter area who has demonstrated consistent efforts to increase diversity within healthcare management.
The American College of Healthcare Executives of Central Florida also creates programs and content that reflect its diverse membership. For example, it offered sessions on gender equity and held a symposium on women in healthcare leadership that covered women’s health and the challenges posed by COVID-19. Other educational events included topics on leadership in changing times, diversity in the workforce and racial disparities in healthcare.
ACHE of Greater Ohio
ACHE of Greater Ohio has committed to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion in the chapter and its leadership. Initiatives include creating a spotlight section for its website, where every six weeks the chapter highlights a different ACHE of Greater Ohio board member or officer to demonstrate the diversity of its board. The chapter also promotes diversity, equity and inclusion as much as possible on its Twitter and LinkedIn channels. For example, it recognized Pride Month the past two years by featuring a statement of support for the event on the chapter’s website and social media. Additionally, the chapter has held events that have focused on topics such as equity of care, diversity in the workforce and women in healthcare leadership.
The chapter has also collaborated with the National Association of Health Services Executives in several ways. For example, a member of the Cincinnati NAHSE chapter has sat on the board and diversity committee of the ACHE of Greater Ohio board. Furthermore, there is representation from the Cincinnati NAHSE chapter and the ACHE of Greater Ohio chapter on the local program councils for Cincinnati and Columbus. The chapter also collaborated with NAHSE on an equity of care event.
South Texas Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives
The South Texas Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives is addressing and raising awareness about issues of equity, diversity and inclusion within the chapter and community. These efforts included chapter leader outreach to chapter members to ensure the chapter is providing educational and social opportunities focused on diversity and inclusion.
Various chapter committees also worked together to ensure events had DEI representation in terms of speakers and content and that all members were invited to these events. The Diversity Committee also added more articles to the chapter’s newsletter, highlighting members’ accomplishments in the community through interviews.
The chapter also partnered with local organizations on DEI-focused efforts. For example, it collaborated with the San Antonio AIDS Foundation on a COVID-19 outreach program to provide vaccines to at-risk populations in the greater San Antonio area. The chapter provided marketing collateral for the program in both English and Spanish and helped with directing patient flow and translating for Spanish-speaking people. Additionally, it partnered with a local nursing association to increase the reach of its efforts to support DEI, and it held a volunteer event with a local homeless assistance organization to enhance the equity of facility upkeep and cleanliness for all people across South Texas.
Washington State Healthcare Executives Forum
The Washington State Healthcare Executives Forum established DEI-specific goals for 2021, which expanded on its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. These goals focused on increasing DEI programming events and building relationships with community partners.
For example, the chapter’s Programs Committee has taken steps to ensure it is more inclusive of and collaborative with other committees and groups when developing its educational events. Also, the chapter designed and hosted statewide virtual diversity meet and mingle events.
To foster community partnerships, Washington State Healthcare Executives Forum created a liaison role for the National Association of Health Services Executives and National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives.
Additionally, the chapter included a DEI-focused article in its newsletter, and it plans to create a DEI-focused space on the chapter website and develop a DEI award that recognizes the efforts of individuals within the chapter.
To find your chapter or search the chapter directory. To discuss your ideas for chapters, contact Jennifer L. Connelly, FACHE, CAE, vice president, Regional Services, Department of Executive Engagement, at (312) 424-9320 or jconnelly@ache.org.