What antiracism efforts at the Brigham are inspiring you?

“The Brigham created the COVID Recovery Center last year to care for patients with lingering symptoms. Our center’s equity team recognizes we will only achieve healthcare justice and antiracism with sustainable intention and investment, and ensures the patients we serve reflect those who have borne a disproportionate burden of this disease.”

Ann-Marcia Tukpah, MD, MPH, clinical fellow, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

“After residents formed a racial justice and health equity committee some years ago, our department created an additional committee for faculty designed to focus on inequities. As with patient safety and medical errors, the more we address structural racism head-on, the more we can avoid perpetuating it.”

Joseph Loscalzo, MD, PhD, chair, Department of Medicine

“At Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, the racial justice and equity program frames our understanding of the history and manifestations of racism, and the tools to build antiracist practice. As nurse clinicians, we identify, examine, and disrupt systems that perpetuate racism.”

Nadia Raymond, PhD, MSN/MHA, RN, regional nursing director, Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center

“Our ambulatory nursing leadership meetings and trainings with the diversity, equity, and inclusion team inspire us to speak out on the racism in our daily lives and activities. While there is still work to be done, we are making great strides as a hospital.”

Farah Abellard, MSN, RN, professional development manager, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

“Along with our IT and nursing colleagues, we’re creating a system that allows clinicians to document the need for medical interpreters. We’re proud to provide compassionate and culturally appropriate care to our limited English proficiency patients and their families.”

Yilu Ma, MS, MA, CMI, director, Interpreter Services

“Creating lasting change begins with addressing issues head-on and cultivating spaces to have uncomfortable and meaningful dialogue. I commend Brigham and Women’s for educating and bringing awareness to systemic and structural racism in the hospital community.”

Mavis Hicks, retail manager, Food Services

“Brigham community health centers have delivered abundant COVID-19 testing and vaccines to high-risk communities. My colleagues’ continued perseverance to achieve racial equity in the community gives me hope.”

Rose Olson, MD, senior resident, Internal Medicine Residency Program

“Racism thrives when we are silent. Racial equity requires creating inclusive spaces for honest discussions and developing joint actions. I’m inspired by our multiracial, multidisciplinary equity response group—staff and faculty who are advancing structural change and addressing inequities affecting our patients, staff, and communities.”

Michelle Keenan, senior director, Health Equity and Social Innovation

“I’m inspired by hospital-wide efforts to enhance workforce diversity and by the significant increase in recruitment of interns who are underrepresented in medicine across our residency programs.”

Galen Henderson, MD, chief diversity and inclusion officer for faculty, trainees, and students, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and director, Neurocritical Care and Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit