In light of the global protests against police brutality and the heartbreaking deaths of Black citizens, it is more vital than ever that we come together as an enterprise and serve our entire community with fair and equitable care. It has always been our priority to promote and support diversity at UF Health. This issue of Open Lines talks more about current and future initiatives and introduces you to those leading these efforts.

The current climate in our nation highlights how much further we need to go to ensure equality, fairness and justice for all of our citizens. UF Health comprises people from many races, ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds who work together to solve problems for all patients, and I believe we are an example others can follow. The respect and compassion you show one another and the people we serve, no matter who they are or where they come from, is an incredible example of how we are better when we stand together.

In this issue, you’ll learn more about the individuals who make up the hospital’s Diversity Council. The council has done great work over the years to show how our different cultures, beliefs and backgrounds create a strong, vibrant organization. Additionally, we have established the UF Health Science Center’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Advisory Council, or IDEA. The purpose of IDEA is to cultivate a culture of inclusive excellence, where inclusion, diversity, equity and access serve as the foundation for our medical care, education, innovation and research efforts.

I encourage you to communicate respectfully with your colleagues and leaders on topics concerning diversity and inclusion. We are not perfect and have a lot to learn, so as you continue caring for our patients, please reach out to one another to show appreciation of our differences and, most importantly, how we can continue to work together to make our organization a leader in this city.

As always, thank you for all that you do every day. UF Health strives to serve the entire community, and I appreciate your efforts to make our mission a reality: to heal, to comfort, to educate and to discover. This is what makes UF Health so special to the fabric of Northeast Florida.

Sincerely,

Leon L. Haley Jr., MD, MHSA

CEO, UF Health Jacksonville

Dean, UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville