Community Engagement and Social Responsibility

Besides the social and economic benefits of increasing minority employment and supporting minority-owned businesses, hospitals can make a positive difference by bringing true diversity to urban hospital board structures. These boards of directors, now underrepresented by the minority populations of their communities, have the power and influence to determine the priorities of their institutions. Hospitals often are the largest employers in their communities and, as such, have the social responsibility of serving their communities in an equitable manner. This work primarily focuses on the data collected and analyzed regarding minority representation in the following areas: hospital governance; administrative and professional employment opportunities at the hospitals; and hospital purchasing practices.