by Darrin S. Joy and Luciana Starks
City of Hope has formed a new council that aims to recognize and promote employees’ and patients’ diverse backgrounds and talents and foster interaction with the communities City of Hope serves. The Diversity and Inclusion Council, comprising 18 faculty and staff members, met for the first time on Nov. 15.
Employees decorated a collage as part of recent Diversity Day activities. (Photo by Thomas Brown)The council’s formation demonstrates City of Hope’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, according to Stephanie Neuvirth, chief human resources officer and executive sponsor of the council.
Members of the new council were selected in part because of the roles they already play in promoting, supporting or influencing diversity-related issues.
“We sought out people who have a genuine passion for diversity or who have already shown a commitment to diversity and inclusion in their work so we could provide them with additional support,” said Neuvirth.
Neuvirth expects the group will meet six times a year, with subgroups meeting more frequently to focus on high-priority issues.
“I am deeply grateful to the talented members of the new council for their willingness to work with us to promote this fundamental organizational commitment,” she said. “We believe there are tremendous benefits to encouraging the diversity of opinions and backgrounds, and that we'll achieve greater innovation, stronger results and be a stronger community because of it.”
The Diversity and Inclusion Council's membership includes representatives from all of City of Hope’s business units:
- Business support services — Neuvirth, Patricia Flores, Lisa Hart, Wendy Wang and Vicky Thompson
- City of Hope Medical Foundation — Nana Dwamena and Cheryl Marine
- Beckman Research Institute — Kimlin Tam Ashing-Giwa, Ph.D., Yvette Lane, Adam Bailis, Ph.D., and Mark Dizik
- Medical center — Carla Garcia, Phyllis Burch and Daisy Rivera
- Development and External Relations — Stephanie Hsieh, Kristen Pugh and Luciana Starks, Ed.D.
- City of Hope Medical Group — Joseph Alvarnas, M.D.
