Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Alignment (IDEA)
Overview
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Alignment (IDEA) is leading organizational transformation and alignment to support our vision to go well beyond medicine. We believe workforce equity is foundational to all efforts to advance and achieve health equity, which is why our associates are equal partners in this mission-critical work. Embracing our systemness, we align our DEI and health equity priorities with organizational and leadership priorities to help create the healthiest generations of children.Ìý
Mission & Vision Statement
At 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Children’s, we aim to create an environment where Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Alignment (I.D.E.A.) are embedded in all aspects of our organization. We strive to cultivate a collaborative workforce that aligns with our mission to provide exceptional care to children and families, while actively advancing health equity. By embracing the richness of diversity and fostering a culture of inclusion, we aspire to serve our regional and global communities in ways that empower all members of the 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ community to have a lasting impact on the lives of the children and families we serve.
The mission of I.D.E.A. at 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ is to champion Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Alignment as foundational values and catalysts for excellence. We believe that workforce equity is foundational to achieve and advance health equity. We partner with associates, patients and families to operationalize our shared commitment to creating the healthiest generations of children.
- Our Leadership
- Health Equity
- Inclusion
- Recognitions
- Scholars Programs
Rachel J. Thornton, MD, PhD is Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer at 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´, where she leads work on health equity strategy to support the organization’s vision to create the healthiest generations of children. With hospitals in the Delaware Valley and Central Florida, 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ is one of the largest integrated pediatric health systems in the United States. Dr. Thornton has committed her career to health equity research and practice, including organizational transformation.
Prior to joining 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´, Dr. Thornton was Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the inaugural Executive Director for Clinical Services in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Office of Population Health, where she led population health management services and community health. A practicing primary care pediatrician, Dr. Thornton served as a Health Policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 2011–2013. As a nationally recognized innovator in health equity research and practice, she served as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine study committee on Shaping Summertime Experiences, Opportunities to Promote Healthy Development ²¹²Ô»åÌýWell-Being for Children and Youth and as a member of the Strategy Group on COVID and Rental Evictions.
Dr. Thornton received a BA from New York University, an MD from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a PhD in Health Policy and Management from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. After residency, she completed fellowship training in general academic pediatrics.
Theresa L. Proctor is the Senior Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´. With more than 30 years of health care and Human Resources experience, she leads the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Alignment (IDEA) Program Management, Diversity Practitioner and Education teams across the enterprise. In this role she leads efforts to advance DEI and health equity strategic planning, educational programming, the support of Associate Resource Groups, and develop transparent and effective dashboards to support accountability for a diverse and thriving workforce of more than 9,000 associates. From policies and processes to associate engagement, she is focused on creating and supporting a workplace culture that values diversity, equity and inclusion and eliminating health care disparities. As a senior leader in a multistate children’s health system, Theresa understands how to effectively advance diversity, equity and inclusion goals within fast-paced industry environments. Her commitment to workforce diversity is both mission-driven and strategic.
Prior to joining the IDEA leadership team, Theresa led 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ as Director, Human Resources Solutions where she was responsible for managing the Enterprise HR Solutions team in onboarding and Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS), developing and leading enterprisewide strategic initiatives and processes, leading the administration of HR policies and procedures and managing HR’s regulatory/corporate compliance functions. In her 11 years as an HR professional at 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´, she has also served as Talent Acquisition Manager for enterprise physician recruitment and Florida nonphysician recruitment, Senior Recruiter and Interim Director, Fund Development for Central Florida. In addition, Theresa served five years in the Arkansas Army National Guard as a Paralegal Noncommissioned Officer in the 39th Infantry Brigade Judge Advocate General’s Corps. During her assignment, she completed one tour of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
Theresa holds a BS in Business Administration-Management from the University of Arkansas — Pine Bluff.
Justin Andrade is the Director, DEI Education & Learning Initiatives for the IDEA team at 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´. In his role, Justin leads the development of inclusive education, resources and tools to improve workforce diversity, equity and inclusion.
Justin has more than 15 years of experience focused on creating inclusive education, opportunities and initiatives. Prior to joining 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´, Justin spent more than 10 years at the University of Central Florida, leading efforts that included building organization-wide civil discourse education and dialogue programs, LGBTQ+ and multicultural population education and resource building, diverse recruitment and retention strategies, community engagement, and strategic planning with leadership to enhance the experience of the workforce and constituencies. During his tenure, he built resources and programs for the LGBTQ+ community, which led the university to achieve a designation as the most LGBTQ+ inclusive institution in the state of Florida. Justin received his BS in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and MS in Higher Education from Drexel University.
Lavisha Pelaez is the Health Equity Operations and Evaluation Scientist for the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Alignment team at 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´. She is responsible for leading efforts to apply research and evidence-based practices to health equity initiatives across the enterprise. She supports development of evaluations and interventions and implementation efforts for population health, quality improvement, workforce development and other related initiatives, with a specific focus on health equity, outcome disparities, social drivers of health and other related factors.Ìý
Lavisha’s professional background is centered around improving pediatric health outcomes and addressing disparities in care. She has worked within internationally recognized health systems, nonprofit organizations focused on services for children, and academia with responsibilities that included public health and clinical research, program evaluation, project data management and consulting.ÌýÂ
Lavisha earned dual BS degrees in Community Health and Kinesiology, and an MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Maryl²¹²Ô»åÌý— College Park. Lavisha is currently pursuing her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Health Equity and Social Justice from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
Eliminating Health Care Disparities
The IDEA team is focused on reducing and ultimately eliminating health care disparities while also addressing the social needs that affect a child’s health and access to health care. are significant and unjust differences in access to care or the health outcomes of a child defined by characteristics such as age, race, ethnicity, gender or location. We know that we must eliminate health care disparities to achieve health equity for all patients. This is a critical component to 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´â€™ ongoing quest for progress and reform in our goal to help children, everywhere, grow into healthy adults.Ìý
Race, Ethnicity & Language (REaL) Data Reporting Initiative
To ensure we are identifying disparities we can impact, it is important we improve how we collect, categorize and report data related to patients’ race, ethnicity and preferred language. By taking a system approach, this initiative will provide us with the ability to compare access, quality and outcomes across populations, geographies and clinical areas. We have a responsibility to deliver equitable health care to the patients we serve, and we have tremendous potential to act as a force multiplier for health equity and improve health outcomes for all.Ìý
Driving the Future of Child Health Equity
IDEA’s aim is to eliminate gaps in care and access to care and improve health outcomes, while also improving the overall health of our entire patient population. We focus on multiple clinical areas, including:
- Primary and Specialty Care Access
- Preventative Care
- Hospital Care
- Health Related Social Needs
Through our disparities dashboards for each clinical area, we strive to drive data-driven and clinically integrated actions through collaboration with our clinical partners to develop initiatives to reduce disparities within identified patient populations, setting targeted goals to close gaps in care and sharing lessons learned both inside and outside of our walls to lead and guide positive change across the industry.
Addressing Health Related Social Needs (HRSN)
Leading the charge to screen patients to identify social needs that may be impacting a child’s health or access to care, IDEA partners with clinicians across the enterprise to identify and respond to those needs. We have focused our efforts across five domains to include food, housing, financial, transportation insecurities and violence in the home.Ìý
IDEA engages in continuous improvement efforts to streamline the overall process to improve the experience for patients, families and providers.
Additionally, the IDEA team partners with internal and external stakeholders to increase the availability of social support in clinical settings. We seek to utilize the latest evidence-based strategies and tools to engage patients and families in the process of discovering and responding to those needs.
Health Equity Action Leaders (HEAL)
The IDEA Clinical Health Equity Action Leaders Team (referred to as the IDEA Clinical HEAL Team), will drive development, implementation, evaluation and improvement of key health equity interventions across 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Children's Health. The Clinical HEAL Team will work with the support of IDEA to develop pilot disparities reduction interventions and evaluations focused on driving rapid cycle improvement around an identified clinical area where we see significant disparities.
Collaboration Is Key
Creating healthier generations of children depends on strategic partnerships with parents, employers, community groups, government agencies and others. Together, we gain a broader understanding of the obstacles, and think of new and innovative ways to overcome them. Here are some of the entities IDEA partners with to advance health care equity practices at 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ and beyond:
Internal PartnershipsÂ
- Children Health Issues (nemours.org)Â
- Quality and SafetyÂ
- Value-Based Services Organization (VBSO)
- HRSN partnersÂ
External PartnershipsÂ
Associate Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We believe that achieving health equity begins with associate diversity, equity and inclusion. A culturally safe environment inspires inclusive innovation and excellence reflected in the quality of care we provide for the children, families and our communities.Ìý
By embracing, celebrating and cultivating an inclusive environment for associate diversity, we aspire to contribute to the healthier generations of children.Ìý
The strength of a diverse and inclusive work environment creates more satisfied associates with a stronger sense of community and mission.
Diversity & Inclusion Education
We identify evidence-based, innovating learning experiences to equip associates with the skills to navigate, leverage and elevate individual differences and positive identity construction. On demand or by special request, our learning content responds to the cultural realities of our organization and provides tools to apply in the workplace.Ìý
Our inclusive leadership education developed in collaboration with subject matter experts in DEI provides a targeted learning and development opportunity to senior leaders across the enterprise. Equipping leaders and their direct reports who manage teams across our regions with inclusive practices will be essential in ensuring the overarching learning and development strategy focused on capacity building from the top down and from the ground up.
Diversity Observances
Exploring diverse cultural traditions can be enjoyable and rewarding and is essential to expand our cultural awareness and sensitivity. Recognizing, appreciating and respecting diverse cultural expressions contributes to a safer and more inclusive work environment, where we can find similarities among differences and thrive together.
Our monthly diversity calendar is a catalog of diverse holidays, observances and special celebrations. It contains a brief description of their significance, traditional customs, forms of celebration and observance, and it’s accompanied by evidence-based guidance and recommendations to expand knowledge, spark cultural curiosity and respectfully participate in diverse customs, while honoring our cultural identity.
Our Associate Resource Groups spearhead engagement events, promote education on highlighted observances, share virtual backgrounds for cultural observances and more.
Associate Resource Groups (ARGs)
ARGs are voluntary, peer-led groups that bring associates together who share common cultural identities, experiences and backgrounds and/or are allies of a particular group. ARGs are open to all, regardless of cultural or ethnic background and life experiences. ARGs are safe spaces dedicated to creating a sense of community and belonging among associates, in alignment with our mission and values. These groups emphasize appreciation and validation of identity and allyship regardless of gender, ethnicity, veteran status, religious affiliation, socioeconomic background, mental and physical ability.
91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ currently supports seven ARGs: Adelante (Latino/Hispanic); Black, African and Caribbean (B.A.C.) Heritage, DESIaN (South Asian); Healthcare Alliance of Asian and Pacific Islanders (HAAPI); Pride (LGBTQ+); Salute (Military & Veterans) and Women@Work. ARGs raise awareness of relevant issues impacting our communities and informing responses, through:
- Strengthening fellowship, shared sense of mission and connection among colleagues
- Developing leadership skills for ARG Leads
- Driving associate diversity and inclusion
- Advancing career and professional development
- Impacting organizational advancement through optimizing policies, processes, culture and inclusion
Adelante (Latinx/Hispanic)
B.A.C. Heritage (Black, African and Caribbean)
DESIaN (South Asian)
HAAPI (Healthcare Alliance of Asian and Pacific Islanders)
Pride (LGBTQ+)
Salute (Military & Veterans)
Women@Work
Email us at IDEA@nemours.org to learn more about our Associate Resource Groups.
The Human Rights Campaign — Healthcare Equality Index
The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the national benchmarking tool that evaluates health care facilities' policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. The HEI evaluates more than 1,700 health care facilities nationwide.
Every year, they recognize the health care organizations that participate in the HEI for their dedication and commitment to LGBTQ inclusion.Ìý91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Children’s Hospital, Delaware is recognized as a LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer.
Becker’s Hospital Review — Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officers to Know
Becker’s Healthcare is the go-to source for health care decision makers and one of the fastest growing media platforms in the industry.Ìý
DEI leaders are directing efforts to create inclusive health care environments where everyone feels welcomed, valued and safe. The DEI officers included on this list are instituting training sessions, establishing business resource groups, creating scholarship programs and improving hiring practices in an effort to uplift diverse populations and enhance health equity at their organizations and within their communities.Ìý
In 2023, Rachel J. Thornton, MD was recognized for creating 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´' first equity roadmap, focusing on the cultural transformation of health care, and creating a demographics dashboard for the organization that offers data on broader diversity goals.
Workforce equity is foundational to all efforts focused on advancing and achieving health equity. This requires a multifaceted approach, with our greatest chance for success coming through the engagement of our current and future associates. We must go beyond providing high-quality care to cultivating and expanding local and regional partnerships to help build our talent and leadership pipeline programs. Sharing our expertise with the next generation of associates, from those on the front lines caring for children and families to those converting innovative ideas into real-world action and policy, this is essential to creating the healthiest generations of children and a better future for our country.
IDEA Scholars Program
The IDEA Scholars Program began in 2012 and has evolved over time to align with our Culture and Talent foundational imperative as a part of our organizational strategic plan. This program is critical to building diverse talent and leadership pipelines that will give us an advantage in identifying future associates early in their careers and power our growing talent needs well into the future. IDEA Scholars work directly with mentors on a project for 10 months to effect change and positively reduce health care disparities. They engage in weekly seminars where we encourage discussion on emerging topics within the field and expose scholars to the nuances of a future career in health care. Applications for this program open in the fall with selections occurring in the spring.
For more information or to express interest please contact us at IDEA@nemours.org.Ìý
Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity Scholars Program
Thanks to Orlando philanthropist Alan H. Ginsburg and the Ginsburg Family Foundation's generous gift of $25 million, vital work will begin to create the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´. This first-of-its-kind initiative will advance health equity for children in medically underserved communities in Florida and across the United States by building a world-class interdisciplinary program that goes well beyond medicine.
The new Ginsburg Institute will also bring together a team of world-renowned pediatric specialists, behavioral economists, health services researchers, environmental health experts, data informaticists and other professionals. Research and policy findings will be shared through local, national and international publications and forums to address the underlying social determinants of health and ultimately change how children's health is defined.Ìý
Ginsburg Scholars will be critical to advancing this important work by supporting the incubation of new and innovative programs, engaging in national policy discussions and providing intellectual and practical assistance in clinical care, research, education and quality improvement initiatives. Applications for this program open in the fall with selections occurring in the spring. Applicants who reside in Central Florida will be prioritized for selection due to the community focus of the Ginsburg Institute in this area. For more information or to express interest please contact us at IDEA@nemours.org.