"How did I contribute to the current state of America, and what am I going to do about it?"

On Juneteenth, Spectrum Health team members came together in a systemwide Day of Understanding to discuss the painful, longstanding history and impacts of systemic racism, to listen, and to share our diverse experiences, stories and perspectives.

We actively engaged in these important discussions because this is what our mission, vision and values of compassion, collaboration, curiosity and courage call us to do. 

To improve health, inspire hope and save lives, we must work together to build a more inclusive organization and model of care and coverage. We must find ways to make health more accessible, affordable and equitable.

To do this well, we must start with ourselves. We must see what we have not yet seen and hear what we have not yet heard. We must ask ourselves, as one of our Black colleagues urged us, “How did I contribute to the current state of America, and what am I going to do about it?” We must come together to address bias, discrimination and disparities of all kinds, within our spheres of action and influence.

Spectrum Health is committed to achieving health equity and to prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization and in the communities we serve. This commitment is reflected in our intentional engagement with the following pledges, all of which are significant to our mission:

• #123forEquity Pledge, signed in 2017, was developed by the American Hospital Association, and calls on health organizations to advance high-quality, equitable and safe care.
• Talent 2025 CEO Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion, signed in 2019, outlines specific practices to further diversity, equity and inclusion in West Michigan. 
• CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion, signed in 2018, underscores my own personal commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, along with 1,000+ other global CEOs.

These commitments recognize the focus and significant accomplishments we’ve already achieved, such as reducing African American infant mortality in Kent County by 28% over the last 10 years, through our maternal infant health program, Strong Beginnings. 

They also inform our vision for the future, which includes:

• Accelerating and expanding efforts to improve health equity in critical areas such as infant mortality, children’s health and chronic disease, by reallocating resources to dedicate $100 million over the next 10 years.
• Partnering with the City of Grand Rapids to offer summer job and mentoring opportunities by hiring 50 young people from diverse backgrounds, offering exposure to careers and professionals in the health sciences.
• Improving our hiring process with additional measures to increase opportunities for diverse candidates interviewed for open roles so that we reflect the vibrant racial and ethnic makeup of our communities. 
• Continuing to expand and enhance our virtual health services and telemedicine platforms, significantly improving access to physical and behavioral health care for patients across the state of Michigan, while boosting affordability.

We must have the courage to engage in uncomfortable conversations, work differently and make bold decisions. Our team members created this video for our Day of Understanding with their stories, and I invite you to join us in listening to the diverse experiences and perspectives of our team members and then continuing the discussion at your kitchen or conference room tables. Through openness, empathy and understanding, we will continue to learn and work together to create workplaces and communities that are more equitable, just and welcoming.

True and lasting progress will take time. But one of the most valuable lessons of these past few months is that by working together, we can accomplish the unimaginable. Together, we have moved mountains and together, we will continue to carve a path forward.