Dear IHP Community,

Once again, we have the opportunity to celebrate Juneteenth, an annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States following the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, slaves in Galveston, Texas were given the news that they were freed by President Abraham Lincoln more than two years before. Often described as America’s second Independence Day, Juneteenth is marked by joyful celebrations that honor the resilience of the Black people. Juneteenth is a reminder that Black history has not been linear but instead is characterized by continuing progress as well as setbacks in the nation’s reckoning with its racial past and present.

Last year’s message talked about the importance of hope in facing the challenging times we are experiencing today as a society. We continue to be faced with the heartaches of war, the impact of racism in society and the divisiveness seen in so many of our social institutions. We have seen our colleagues in academic institutions around the country being stripped of their ability to address the critical issues of racial justice and equity on their campuses and control the education of their students. They are being prohibited from academic conversations that enhance the understanding of these important topics that support inclusion and belonging.

As a community, the IHP is committed to continuing on our path toward a deeper understanding of racial justice issues and principles of health equity. We continue improving our curriculum to support the education of our students as equitable practitioners and we are committed to supporting our community on their journey to becoming thoughtful and reflective individuals. In June 2020, I wrote an email to the IHP community affirming our commitment to equity. Today, I reaffirm our steadfast commitment to justice and equity at the IHP.

The following are just a few examples of the work of the IHP is doing in addressing the JEDI goals that we have been working on for the last four years. Led by our JEDI Office, this work is done in collaboration with the members of our community in support of developing a more inclusive environment:  

  • Dr. John S. Wilson delivered the E. Lorraine Baugh Visiting Faculty lecture during the spring semester where he spoke about democratic education as a purpose of colleges and universities. He shared that institutions of higher education should help students to develop “a skill set for a better ‘me’ and a mindset for a better ‘we.’” This concept resonated with me as we prepare health professionals to improve health equity and our world.
  • In my last email, I provided an update on the IHP strategic plan and how we have infused JEDI across the strategic pillars. In addition, the JEDI Office has been working with departments and offices led by my direct reports to map out their functions and goals relative to the JEDI Core Competencies that the leadership approved in April 2023. As part of this mapping process, departments and offices participate in a workshop facilitated by a member of the JEDI Office. In addition to the JEDI Core Competencies, each individual employee at the IHP can now set JEDI goals as part of the annual performance review process.
  • In the past year, the JEDI Council addressed a range of issues, including the Supreme Court decision regarding affirmative action, support for Jewish and Muslim students, demographic data analysis of students, the Association of Independent Colleges and University Access and Equity conference, community engagement, Culturally Engaging Campus Environments (CECE) survey, student assistance program, Leave of Absence (LOA), and incident reporting. This coming year, we plan to continue our conversation on how to reduce the number of LOAs and discuss the employee experience survey results and CECE survey results.
  • The JEDI Community of Practice (CoP) provides a space for faculty who are committed and interested in teaching and learning about justice and equity issues at the IHP. This past year, CoP members discussed how to support our students in connecting JEDI principles and action plans, or transitioning theoretical knowledge into practical application when it comes to JEDI. Members also explored how they were personally processing Israel and Palestine, while navigating and grappling with holding space for our students to do the same.

We continue to work toward improving the lives of our patients, our communities, and our society because we believe that the work we do is impactful and meaningful. On Juneteenth and every day, we will reflect on our role in building an equitable and just health care delivery system. It is through this refection and thought that we can grow as individuals and as a community.

Wishing you peace,

Paula