By Doug Riddle, PhD, DMin, FAPA, Curriculum Director of The Carol Emmott Foundation

At my age, the phrase “I can’t believe how far we’ve come!” is commonplace but never so true as it applies to The Equity Collaborative (affectionately called TEC). In the summer of 2019, a diverse collective of healthcare leaders gathered in Nashville. We wanted to explore the creation of a consortium of health systems to advance organizational practice in gender equity. We’ve grown to 17 organizations while retaining most of the founders. The benefits to member organizations have far outstripped any of our expectations. Originally, only health systems were included but now we include both academic and public health systems, healthcare improvement organizations, and human experience platforms. Member organizations count on the sponsorship of their senior leadership for participation and commit to work together to advance just and equitable gender policy and practice.

To help you get the flavor of this dynamic community, let me tell you about our last in-person gathering (we meet twice a year in person, hosted by a member organization, and twice virtually). Dr. Iris Bohnet, professor and co-director of Harvard’s Women and Public Policy Program, has written the most practical guide to equitable practices in organizations. We took advantage of Tufts Medicine’s sponsorship to schedule our Boston meeting at a time Dr. Bohnet was available. Members got to interact with her around her most recent research on designing career equity. Topics included positive changes that have been built into systems for selection and more ways to de-bias the hiring process. The Equity Collaborative is becoming known for introducing healthcare leaders to the most up-to-date research and evidence-based practice for more equitable organizational life.

The Equity Collaborative is a solution-creating platform. One of the methods we use is case study sharing by members and joint problem-solving. At our last session, Teri Lux and Holly Reilly of Froedtert Health shared how they created new operating models to create a healthy climate while restructuring significant parts of the system. A panel including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leaders from major health systems around the country addressed the changing political, corporate, and public attitudes toward issues of healthcare equity. Their stimulating conversation resulted in multiple shared resources and a catalogue of actions member organizations are taking. We also used a group problem-solving process (we call it Collaborative Consultation) to work on concerns about workplace violence and the reality that women seem to be the majority of those who are willing to tackle it.

As a community, we are exposed to creative solutions to persistent issues. We heard from Dr. Sarosh Rana and Laura Markin what they are doing to transform obstetrical care on the Southside of Chicago. In this maternity “desert” they have brought together community organizations, the University of Chicago Health System, and other resources to reduce morbidity and mortality of women. Tufts Medicine physician and Carol Emmott Fellow Dr. Sucharita Kher showed how patients and families with limited English can experience better quality healthcare.

We are now turning greater attention to how we can take advantage of the synergies provided by the combination of services and resources that The Carol Emmott Foundation has grown. With 160 women who are now Carol Emmott Fellows, a new class of 24 women leaders beginning this year, 17 major healthcare firms in TEC, 60 nationally-recognized mentors and advisors in our Leadership Council, the breadth and depth of knowledge and experience available within our community is remarkable. The Equity Collaborative has demonstrated the power of an organization that offers a safe space to tackle the toughest challenges and venture into the greatest opportunities toward truly equitable healthcare for all. I can’t believe how far we’ve come.