Meet the Caregiver Equity Advisory Council
The SelectHealth Caregiver Equity Advisory Council began in 2022 to positively impact Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) within SelectHealth, and at?all SelectHealth locations.?The council consists of a broad group of caregivers who are involved in equity initiatives and raising awareness.
“The council members are an engaged group who volunteer to help advise and support the organization to become more inclusive,” says Keri Perrigot, HR Director and the council’s HR Business Partner Advisor. “We want all caregivers to come to work as their whole selves with a true sense of belonging. Ultimately, this will help SelectHealth recruit, retain, and support our caregiver workforce and serve our members to live the healthiest lives possible.”
Meet some of the council members, learn why they joined, and what equity and being a part of SelectHealth means to them.
Sylvia Holker, RN, Healthy Connections (she/her)
I’ve worked for SelectHealth for about eight years. I am a mom to nine children of which eight are now adults. I have a transgender daughter and have learned so much about the LGBTQ+ community. I am currently in a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program, working as the clinical educator for our department, and do the onboarding for our new caregivers. I love to share?Intermountain’s Cultural Guide?to help inform new caregivers of healthcare disparities and the diversity of the cultures that we serve. I have many stories in which I or a family member have been the recipient of bias, hostility, or hateful comments because of our differences. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this council to share those experiences and what I’ve learned. If by doing so, I touch one person’s heart or mind, it will make all the difference to me.?
Gage Pomikala, Pharmacy Operations (he/him)
I joined the council to learn and grow more as an individual. Being a part of it gives me insight into various aspects of SelectHealth and all the different caregivers here and what they offer. When I think of everyone feeling included and understood, it gives me a sense of overwhelming happiness. Growing up, I was never really included in much besides being bullied a lot for being larger than most kids. It wasn’t until 10th grade that I found a group of people that made me feel included and welcomed, and that was one of the greatest feelings in the world. I hope to be able to help those who could use that wonderful feeling. It’s something everyone should experience and be able to enjoy.
Heidi Stevenson, Healthy Connections/Care Management (she/her)
I have worked for Intermountain for 14 years and SelectHealth for a little over two years. I love to travel, swim, read, and I am a huge movie/TV buff. I'm a Disney- and Harry Potter-loving nerd (and proud of it!). I’m the happiest and most at peace when I am sitting on the beach or swimming in the ocean. I was paralyzed when I was five?years old and have been in a wheelchair ever since. I’m here to bring the perspective of someone with a disability and the way it can affect life. I’d like to learn more about equity and want to share with my community the knowledge and growth I will get from the council.
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Teresa Hall, Healthy Connections (she/her)
Throughout my career as both a clinician and in an administrative role, I’ve observed situations in which a patient or a caregiver did not have an equal access to care or opportunity for advancement, not because of overt discrimination, but due to systemic structures that create unintended barriers for underserved or unrepresented groups. As a council member, I hope to share experiences that will spur discussion about how our policies and processes can be designed in ways that are more inclusive. I also enjoy encouraging and supporting caregivers at all levels of the organization to share their experiences. It’s important to learn from each other what we are doing well and where we could improve in our efforts to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and a feeling of belonging.
Dalys Leyva, Healthy Connections Operations (she/her)
I have worked for SelectHealth for two years; currently I'm responsible for new caregiver onboarding/training for the Healthy Connections department where I enjoy getting to know and connecting with our new caregivers. Being on the council is a way for me to be a part of something meaningful while helping to increase awareness and understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. It's especially important for me because I've seen the impact that recognizing these topics has had on my experience as an employee, and I want to do my part to make sure other caregivers, new and current, feel safe and welcomed at SelectHealth.
Sebastian de Freitas, Community Relations (he/him)
I was born and raised in Uruguay, worked on a cruise ship in Europe, and moved to Utah 20 years ago. As a caregiver whose primary language is not English and having grown up in a different culture, I am passionate about equity and helping others thrive and overcome barriers associated to their background. My partner Mauro and I enjoy traveling, watching local and foreign films, trying new foods, and spending time with friends and our puppies Dexter and Lucas. I am very active on social media. If you have a profile on LinkedIn, let’s connect there so we can exchange ideas about issues important to our communities and share the great work happening at SelectHealth.
The mission of the council is to:??
SelectHealth shares the same?fundamentals as Intermountain, and Equity was added as a fundamental in 2020.?The commitment is to eliminate health disparities and help all members and caregivers to live the healthiest lives possible. Equity involves improving access, treatment, and outcomes for everyone—regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnicity or race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, and geographic location.
Author: Lindsay Post, Communications Consultant ET-SelectHealth