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We Are Called
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.
CHA Articles
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March 2025In 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. -
February 2025Professor of philosophy and disability studies on ableism and health disparities: 'Let's actually listen to what disabled people say'
CHA webinar explores how clinicians can communicate with and address the needs of people with disabilities -
January 2025Michigan hospice's training empowers African Americans to dialogue
Rev. Diane Smith knows the hospice education program she leads for predominantly Black churches resonates with those who enroll. She recalls the time a man popped into a virtual class as he was riding in a car. He told Rev. Smith: "My sister died. We went down south to a funeral. I’m on my way back, but I didn’t want to miss this session." -
January 2025Report on global health partnerships 'a huge win' toward working together for change
CHA's Bruce Compton co-authored study with leaders around the world -
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. -
December 2024'Gaming Guy' at CHRISTUS Children's plays video games with patients to help them feel better
When Jacob Solis comes into a patient's room at CHRISTUS Children's in San Antonio with his cart of video games, their eyes brighten. -
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 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. -
Summer 2024How Local Partnerships Can Improve Maternal and Infant Health, Address Structural Barriers
The well-being of mothers, infants and children is important to a thriving community and can determine the health of future generations and impact future public health challenges.
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.