Thriving Together: Meet Chris Malchow

Leveraging diverse perspectives allows us to develop better overall solutions to the problems we face. In this series, we take time to recognize our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and the work they do to create an environment where all employees can thrive. In each series post, we will be highlighting a member nominated by an ERG.

Tell us about your role at Mass General Brigham and your role within the ERG you were nominated by.

My role in the Office of the Chief Medical Officer Health Equity team is to manage a wonderful group of folks who enact our Mass General Brigham United Against Racism and Health Equity goals. One example is our work to improve the ability for folks to share their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity with our system so we can better know how to help them. Another workstream is reviewing clinical policies with a health equity lens, for example, our team developed an enterprise-wide rooming policy that is gender-affirming for our transgender and non-binary patients.

Within the Enterprise Services LGBTQ+ ERG, I have been the chair of the Company Committee for about 3 years. I get to make the connection between our ERG and Mass General Brigham goals, including all the vital work we are doing under United Against Racism and through the Health Equity team. For example, we can bring together focus groups to ensure the community voice is included in important company decisions that impact our 2S/LGBTQIA+ patients and colleagues.

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How has this ERG positively impacted you?

I have really enjoyed finding this amazing group of colleagues and friends who are driven to help others! They have given me perspective and confidence to use my privileges as an ally to speak up for the 2S/LGBTQIA+ and other communities I work with in Health Equity. I learn from this group every time we meet, which improves my ability to reach my professional goal to improve healthcare for groups who have historically had poor access to high quality care.

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What has been your favorite experience while participating in this ERG and what are you looking forward to in the next few months??

My favorite experience was offering a Virtual Pride Parade event in 2021. I felt folks in the community hurting during the pandemic with the closing of community safe spaces and cancelation of in person celebrations, so I was driven to organize an event where folks could come together. We used a fun online meeting platform to give folks a sense of place and naturally break down into smaller groups to speak to others in the community in a more celebratory way. It was very rewarding when folks shared with me that they had as much fun as I did and that the virtual event felt surprisingly personal.

Looking forward, it will be exciting to get to know a new group of leaders after our yearly ERG elections. It is always heartening to hear the amazing new ideas folks bring to this ERG. I also enjoy the yearly celebrations our ERGs do in the holidays, so can’t wait to see some new and old friends in person.