Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
St. Francis Medical Center is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, where it has always been a joint commitment and privilege to care for those most in need in our communities. We now look to put our own house in order regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The initiative, championed by the system’s CEO, has implemented multiple strategies to ensure that DEI is a commitment that is taken seriously throughout the system, and ultimately in our residency program.
The organization has also implemented the creation of DEI councils across the organization, allowing the voices of team members and faculty to be heard at varying levels. This includes councils for the system and individual hospitals. Two residents will be selected by their peers to sit on the local DEI council where they will represent residents and report back to a resident-only DEI council. Another measurement metric that has been implemented is providing routes for anonymous feedback via engagement in the DEI survey. These responses will be available for review by the OGME at a department level to determine areas of need and successes based on these responses.
For St. Francis Medical Center, retention is heavily related to inclusivity, and inclusivity means combating isolation, helping residents feel seen and heard, and always making them feel part of the organization. Councils and affinity groups allow residents to engage the program with needed changes in a format that is accepted and encouraged by the organization.
Guiding bodies and their directives pertaining to DE&I: