Hochman guides Providence in bold health equity work
On any given morning, Dr. Rod Hochman tries to spend a few minutes connecting in spirit with the 117,000 caregivers employed by Providence St. Joseph Health across seven Western states.
"What I like to think about early in the morning in my office is what's happening right at that moment," said Hochman. "At that moment, there are about 1,000 patients getting prepped for surgery. ORs are getting cranked up. The first home health visits are happening; staff are in the ICU; they're making rounds. And I think about all the interactions between our caregivers and the people we serve."
Hochman considers every one of those contacts as a potential sacred encounter. As president and chief executive of Providence, he has helped elevate efforts to foster a culture of respect where sacred encounters and other moments of meaningful human connection are valued. His belief in the inherent worth of every individual drives his work to advance social justice and health equity at Providence and in the U.S. For that leadership, he is the 2023 recipient of CHA's Sister Carol Keehan Award.