Inclusive Excellence and Health Equity Strategic Plan

Background:

Stanford Medicine’s Inclusive Excellence and Health Equity Strategic Plan represents the culmination of over 50 years of dedicated diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) efforts at Stanford Medicine. The plan leverages insights from more than 160 initiatives across the enterprise and reflects the contributions of three dozen centralized and departmental offices and committees. Our plan builds upon and draws from a strong foundation, including:

Stanford Medicine’s Inclusive Excellence and Health Equity Strategic Plan is not a standalone effort but an integral part of our broader mission to advance human health through excellence in research, education, and patient care.

As Stanford Medicine’s inaugural Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer and Associate Dean, Joyce Sackey, MD, FACP, has led the development of the Inclusive Excellence and Health Equity Strategic Plan, incorporating insights from her ongoing engagements with academic and administrative leaders, community members, employee resource groups (ERGs), and other groups across Stanford Medicine. Dr. Sackey and her team will oversee the plan’s launch, implementation, and maturation – actively monitoring for opportunities to proactively respond to the evolving inclusion and health equity landscape at Stanford Medicine and beyond.

Vision Statement: 

Achieve inclusive excellence and health equity across Stanford Medicine and beyond.

Strategic Pillars:

Culture

Cultivate a greater sense of inclusiveness and belonging through clear governance and equitable policies that promote a mission-driven culture with clear accountability measures.

Diversity

Focus on recruitment and retention strategies, DEIB education, and training to improve representation and cultural competence.

Health Equity

Integrate health equity throughout all facets of research, education, and care delivery, addressing social determinants of health and fostering community partnerships.

Goals & Key Tactics

  • Develop a high-level leadership structure for accountability.
  • Create centralized reporting systems and conflict resolution models.
  • Integrate DEIB into all recruitment, retention, and promotion processes.
  • Foster a culture of belonging and inclusivity through community building and professional development.
  • Advance health equity through partnerships and research.

Implementation Timeline

  • FY24: Kick-off, focusing on aligning existing DEIB initiatives to the strategic pillars of culture, diversity, and health equity.
  • FY25: Refine existing initiatives, launch new efforts, and integrate into broader Stanford Medicine frameworks.
  • FY26 and Beyond: Build on health equity efforts to increase community care access and further establish Stanford as a leader in DEIB and health equity.

Where We Are Today

 
  • Socialize the plan, gather feedback, and align current efforts to our three strategic pillars.
  • Define phase-specific implementation partners, secure resources, and begin comprehensive implementation.
  • Regularly review progress against established metrics and adjust strategies as needed.