Dear Community Members,
The important dialogue occurring in our society about racism is helping to shape how UCLA Health can best respond as a health care system to eliminate disparities.
We are collaborating with staff to create transformative change that will leave no doubt that at the UCLA Hospital & Clinic System, Black Lives Matter. We are confident that with feedback and input from staff and our work with the UCLA campus, we will create a better health system, together.
We want to share some initial actions we are implementing and look forward to developing more. The following represent only the beginning of our efforts and commitments:
- Creating a position description and funding for a Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) for the UCLA Hospital & Clinic System. This position will serve as part of the executive team, reporting to me as CEO of the UCLA Hospital System. It is our intention to have the CDO work collaboratively across our system to ensure health equity and inclusion, to strengthen our focus on diversity in patient care, team member experiences, community engagement, and strategic initiatives to build healthier communities.
- Funding a series of management and staff training programs designed to create a highly cohesive, respectful and anti-racist culture at UCLA Hospital & Clinic System.
- Supporting scholarship funding for the UCLA medical assistant training program for entry-level positions, making it accessible to a wider group of participants.
- Increasing efforts to recruit and retain a diverse workforce, including funding for innovation fellows, administrative fellowships and internship programs for management level positions.
- Completing a Community Benefits Assessment to identify areas of underserved populations in our community and developing action plans to address needs, in coordination with DGSOM and UCLA Health physicians, staff and trainees, including with many groups and units dedicated to working on these issues.
UCLA Health will be an active participant working toward change in our society. We look forward to receiving input, feedback and participation as we work together to eliminate racism.
Sincerely,
Johnese Spisso, MPA
President, UCLA Health
CEO, UCLA Hospital System
Associate Vice Chancellor, UCLA Health Sciences
