Fall has arrived in Philadelphia, but it’s not just the leaves and temperatures that are changing. In a year that has been characterized by rapidly updating headlines and dramatic social, economic, and climate upheaval, Pennsylvania Hospital too has been in the midst of a transformation. Though the path to becoming an anti-racist organization will take time, diligence, and unwavering commitment, I am proud of the strides we have made so far and of the momentum we have built over the past several months.
Throughout August and September, we continued hosting open dialogues to examine the impact of institutional racism, unconscious bias, and the roles we all play in dismantling these systemic issues. Through virtual and in-person listening sessions, staff had the opportunity to discuss challenging, but crucial questions about what leadership, infrastructure, and policy changes they believe are needed to build a more just, diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture at Pennsy and across Penn Medicine. It is vital that everyone has the opportunity to share their perspectives throughout this process, and I truly appreciate all of the staff members who took the time to participate in the latest discussions.
I am also deeply grateful to have such empowered and engaged staff members serving on our new Nomination Committee. Their guidance and collaboration with our Executive Leadership Team facilitators will be integral as we continue identifying opportunities for meaningful change. Over the coming weeks, the committee will review applications for workgroup volunteers and ensure that our six thematic groups include staff from a wide range of disciplines, departments, and diverse backgrounds. These groups align with the themes identified by the Office of Inclusion and Diversity’s Action for Cultural Transformation (ACT) framework — culture, people, clinical, research, education, and community — and will meet regularly over the next two years to create short- and long-term goals.
As we move forward in this essential work together, there will be ample opportunities for all of us to get involved, share our voices, and take action. Thank you for joining me on this journey. I look forward to sharing additional updates on our collective efforts with you soon.