The healthcare industry has navigated unprecedented challenges since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, bringing heightened awareness to health inequities that exist in our country. We know that creating a diverse workforce is important in all industries, and this is especially true in healthcare as more equitable representation can lead to more equitable access and outcomes for the patients and communities we serve.
At HCA Healthcare, our leadership team acted quickly and strategically to address diversity, equity and inclusion opportunities by establishing Colleague Networks (employee resource groups), creating a sponsorship program focused on identifying and nurturing leaders of color within our organization, and prioritizing growth and retention of a diverse talent pipeline. While many diversity efforts focus largely on recruiting, we believe there is a pipeline opportunity that calls for engagement with students earlier on their career paths, as many students begin focusing on their future jobs as undergraduates.
Directing resources toward this stage of education is critical to reduce hurdles to a career in healthcare. A major component of HCA Healthcare’s strategy to build a diverse workforce includes providing substantial support for our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs).
In 2021, we pledged $10 million over three years to support HBCUs and HSIs, and thus far have committed more than half that amount, including $1.5 million to Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) School of Allied Health Sciences. HCA Florida Capital Hospital and HCA Healthcare’s Tallahassee-based North Florida Division are working with FAMU to provide scholarships and internships. Additionally, this partnership provides an opportunity for hands-on shadowing opportunities, mentors, seminars, leadership sessions and career guidance.
With several other partnerships in place and more on the horizon, HCA Healthcare is working to increase diversity when filling critical roles in our hospitals and on our leadership teams. This work will positively impact future generations and communities as a whole as we strive to ensure equitable access and outcomes across the healthcare industry at large.
Our mission is at the core of everything we do: Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. We will continue to invest in and show up for our patients, colleagues and communities in support of health equity for all and encourage other healthcare leaders to do the same.
Sherri Neal is chief diversity officer at HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare comprising 182 hospitals – including 49 in Florida – and more than 2,300 clinics across 20 states and the United Kingdom. Currently, the healthcare organization has approximately 294,000 colleagues.
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