Executive Leadership Diversity Summit
Vituity and ACEP were proud to host the Eighth Annual Executive Leadership Diversity Summit, October 27, 2020. This exclusive event featured a keynote address by Dignity Health senior executive Carolyn Caldwell addressing disparities and inequalities in healthcare.
The event continued with a panel conversation, moderated by Savoy Brummer, MD, focused on exploring the value of diversity within management and governance in addressing the unique social and professional challenges facing minority executives today.
Clinical Leaders Weigh In
More so than any other year, minority physicians and hospital CEOs, board members, chairs, and directors have shared the enormous collective responsibility in addressing the challenges brought upon our communities by the COVID-19 pandemic. If that were not difficult enough, we have also had to guide our organizations in addressing the manifestations of social injustice and growing health and economic disparities across the acute care continuum. This year, in a virtual format, the Executive Leadership Diversity Summit shared these stories to foster a higher-level conversation regarding lessons learned through the perspective of minority executives.
Diversity is in our DNA
Our commitment to achieve diversity, foster inclusion, and champion accountability at all levels is at the heart of our organization and the heart of better care for the communities we serve.
2020 Dr. Wes Curry Honorees
Each year, Vituity recognizes several hospital and physician executives and their outstanding achievements with the Dr. Wes Curry Award. This honor recognizes innovation, collaboration, and culture building by diverse healthcare leaders. We are very proud to share this year’s winners:
Award in Executive Leadership
Maureen Bell, MD
Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Howard University Hospital
Dr. Bell is a founding board member of the Vituity Cares Foundation, dedicated to improving the health of underserved communities. She is also the Medical Director for Vituity at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Heather Prendergast, MD, MS, MPH, FACEP
Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs, Vice Chair of Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois College of Medicine
Dr. Prendergast is one of a handful of African American women in the United States who have attained the rank of full professor in the specialty of emergency medicine.
Award in Social Justice
Rob Gore, MD
Executive Director, KAVI
Dr. Gore is the founder and executive director of KAVI (Kings Against Violence Initiative), a hospital, school and community-based youth violence intervention prevention and empowerment program targeting teens and young adults that have been injured as a result of violence or at risk for violent and recurrent violent injury.
Michael McGee, MD
Medical Director of Emergency Services at Methodist Hospitals
Dr. McGee is medical director of Methodist Hospitals Emergency Services in Gary, Indiana, He is also the founder of the POP (Project Outreach and Prevention) on Violence Foundation.