Confronting Racism by Achieving Health Equity
Racism within any context is an affront to the core values of Catholic social teaching, which acknowledges the inherent dignity of each person, calls for the furthering of the common good and seeks justice through solidarity. Catholic health care recognizes the profound effect racism has on the health and well-being of individuals and communities and is committed to addressing the systemic causes of health disparities among underserved and vulnerable populations. As such, we are committed to working with partners who share these convictions to implement wide-sweeping change and eliminate the racial inequities in our marginalized communities.
Health Equity Stories
-
AprilThe pink card that nurse and oncology navigator Skarlleth Kauffmann hands out to women is more than just a card, she likes to say. “I always tell them: ‘This pink card can save your life,’” she said. -
March 2025SSM Health works with other St. Louis anchor institutions to expand access to business loans
In St. Louis, healthy lives can flourish in all sorts of places: a growing trucking company, a family funeral home, a block of homes under construction in an underserved neighborhood, and a hot sauce company that got its start in a family kitchen. -
January 2025CommonSpirit-Morehouse partnership is building a pool of aspiring clinicians of diverse backgrounds
Dr. Chrissa Karagiannis, in blue scrubs, takes part in ultrasound training with fellow residents and medical students. -
November 2024Providence director of health equity in California, child of immigrants, draws on background to serve
Denise Colomé is the director of health equity for Providence St. Joseph Health in California's south division. -
November 2024CommonSpirit institute is focused on putting human kindness into practice
President hopes to create think tank that drives discussions about health justice -
November 2024Serving migrants is 'God’s work,' says leader of Catholic Charities of San Antonio
Amid harsh political rhetoric and even open displays of rage, CEO of Catholic Charities of San Antonio sees only in its grace in efforts to serve migrants. -
Winter 2025Finding the Right Fit: Programs Foster Student Interest in Health Care, Diversify Future Workforce
Dr. Stacy Garrett-Ray will always remember the look of joy and wonder on a young girl's face the first time she heard the human heart through a stethoscope. "To let a child listen to your heart, it's a very touching experience," said Garrett-Ray, senior vice president and chief community impact officer for Ascension. The health system's Foundation for Health Equity connects middle schoolers with a day of hands-on health care-related activities through its #GOALS (Go Out and Love Science) program. -
Fall 2024Fostering Teamwork to Promote Harmony in the Workplace
"Everyone brings something with them when they come to work," said Odesa Stapleton, chief diversity and inclusion officer at Bon Secours Mercy Health in Cincinnati. People are a collection of different work styles, lifestyles, needs and preferences, and it's up to organizations to help them all get along. -
Fall 2024Mobile Clinics: Driving Toward Health Equity
Health care is multifaceted, but the overall goal is to help people live their healthiest lives, regardless of who they are or where they live. This takes many forms, from prevention and health education, to clinical care and connection, to social and community-based services. Understanding patients, their cultures and preferences, their barriers and levels of health literacy is part of the equation that must be considered when working toward this goal. -
Fall 2024The Ripple Effect of 'WASH' in Catholic Health Care
When the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul first arrived in Ondo State in Nigeria in 1988, they found fertile agriculture as well as fertile ground for disease and severely limited health care. In 1995, they made a giant health care leap. They opened St. Catherine's Hospital and Maternity. The initial site and building, which were donated, grew to accommodate the remote community's needs. They do not charge patients. -
Fall 2024Bridging Religious Identity in Health Care: The Time Is Now
Anne Fadiman's book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, tells the true story of a three-month-old girl, Lia Lee, in Merced, California, who began to shake uncontrollably. Her parents, immigrants from Laos, took her to a hospital where a team of highly committed doctors did everything you would expect: They stabilized the patient, drew blood and ran tests. They diagnosed little Lia with epilepsy and prescribed a complex cocktail of drugs for the parents to administer at set intervals. -
Summer 202410 Actions Hospitals Can Take to End Maternal Mortality in the U.S.
The U.S. has a problem with maternal mortality, and it is not getting better. The trend has been even more alarming in recent years. According to CDC data, in 2021, the maternal mortality rate was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, which was up from 23.8 in 2020 and 20.1 in 2019.
Season 4: Episode 2 - Roadmaps to Health Equity
The road to health equity is long, and many hospitals and healthcare facilities are on different parts of the journey. How do we gauge best practices and strategies for different parties?
Several guests join this episode of Health Calls to discuss ongoing efforts to help hospitals across the United States: Kathy Curran, Senior Director of Public Policy for the Catholic Health Association; Joy Lewis, Senior Vice President for Health Equity Strategies for the American Hospital Association, and Executive Director of the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity; and Leon Caldwell, Senior Director of Health Equity Strategies at the American Hospital Association. They discuss the history of the AHA’s efforts and how the two associations have collaborated in the work of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
"We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life."
– Pope Francis
– Pope Francis