Commemorating National Religious Freedom Day: Combating Religious Hate and Advancing Religious Diversity 

National Religious Freedom Day was proclaimed on Jan. 16, 1993, and further supported by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to spread the message of peace, love and acceptance. Penn State Health will commemorate this day on Jan. 15 as a way to recommit to our RITE values, diversity, inclusion and religious diversity in particular. Employees and patients will have the opportunity to share stories of our RITE values in action, pride in religious diversity and ideas for making these concepts richer in 2024:

• 4–4:50 p.m. 
• Speakers: Madeline Frankel and Rev. Karen Bona, senior health care program associates, Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding; Alex Cirko, vice president of mission and ministry, Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center; David Simmons, director of pastoral services, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

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Patient Bias Prevention Dialogue

Penn State Health has developed educational programs for its staff on addressing patient bias and has launched a campaign to let patients know about an expectation of mutual respect. But is this enough? This session will provide an opportunity for care team members to share their perspectives on improving our responses to patient bias and discrimination:

• 7:30–8:15 a.m.
• Speakers: Brian McGillen, hospitalist, Penn State Health Medical Group; Kay Makin, director of system risk management, Penn State Health; Lynette Chappell Williams, vice president and chief diversity officer, Penn State Health. Sessions facilitated by Jeff Beckman, vice president, Penn State Health Corporate Relations and Communications.

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Addressing Issues Facing Multicultural Patients 

Did you know that the number of people identifying as “multiracial” in Pennsylvania has increased by 226% since 2010? Members of the Penn State Health Multicultural Advisory Council will lead a discussion of contemporary issues faced by racially and ethnically diverse patients, with a focus on providing language support to patients who do not speak English:

• Noon–12:45 p.m.
• Speakers: Ernesto Garcia Bernal and Aury Castro, interpreters for Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Elli Vachaviolou, interpreter, and Carolina Hansell, senior certified medical interpreter, Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. Session facilitated by Caanen Churukha, program manager for diverse patient experience, Penn State Health Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 

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Promoting Linguistic Awareness and Tolerance – A Study on the Multicultural Population in Dallas

This session provides an overview of the Dallas International Report of 2003 on A Survey of Language Diversity in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan area as justification for promoting linguistic awareness and bilingual education in health care:

• 4–4:50 p.m.
• Speaker: Sushma Sharma, PhD, vice president of health care research, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania. Session facilitated by Andrea Murray, Research Project Manager, Penn State College of Medicine.

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Psychological Safety for Diverse Populations

Learn how to navigate challenges that can create barriers to psychological safety – the shared belief that a diverse individual will not be rejected or embarrassed for speaking up with questions, concerns or suggestions – and strategies for success in creating this sense of safety:

• 7:30–8:15 a.m.
• Speaker: Leroy Hodge, code team specialist, Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, a Penn State Health enterprise. Session facilitated by George F. Blackall, PsyD, MBA, ABPP, board certified in clinical child and adolescent psychology; vice dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs, Penn State College of Medicine; professor of Pediatrics, Humanities & Psychiatry, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; steering committee member, Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging, Penn State College of Medicine.

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Addressing Issues Facing LGBTQ+ Patients 

Did you know that according to the Center for American Progress, 8% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer (LGBQ) people and 29% of transgender people have said that a doctor or other health care provider refused to see them because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity? Members of the Penn State Health Gender Minority Patient Advisory Council will discuss contemporary issues faced by members of the LGBTQ+ community and ways to provide respectful and affirming care: 

• Noon–12:50 p.m.
• Speaker: Molly Ainsman Fisher, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Drexel University; director of women’s health, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Medicine Institute; director of the Gender-Based Medicine Track, AHN Internal Medicine Residency Program; vice chair of the AHN Women Physician’s Employee Resource Group. Session facilitated by Wesley Raup-Konsavage, PhD, assistant professor in Pharmacology; scientific director, Center for Cannabis and Natural Product Pharmaceutics; manager, Drug Discovery, Development and Delivery (D4) Core, Penn State College of Medicine; chair, DEB Student Mentorship Workgroup, DEB Champion Pharmacology, Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging, Penn State College of Medicine.

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Addressing Issues Impacting Patients With Disabilities 

Adults with disabilities living in Pennsylvania are more likely to have depression, be obese, smoke and have diabetes and heart disease compared to those without disabilities. This session, led by members of the Penn State Health Disability Inclusion Advisory Council, will explore contemporary issues faced by patients with disabilities and ways to promote accessibility in health care:

• 4–4:50 p.m.
• Speakers: Erin Vago, Extramural Member of the Disability Inclusion Advisory Council at Penn State Health and Janette Migliori, Extramural Member of the Disability Inclusion Advisory Council at Penn State Health. Session facilitated by Caanen Churukha, LCSW, Program Manager for Diverse Patient Experience, Penn State Health Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

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Racial Differences in Maternal Health: Improving Maternal Health Through Community-Based Collaboration

Black maternal and infant health is in a state of crisis, with a recent report showing that Black babies die at twice the rate of white babies. In addition, Black women experience inferior quality of care, regardless of education or socioeconomic status. Historic inequalities and the resulting distrust of the health care system inhibit access to safe and equitable treatment. This session will address how we can work together to improve racial differences in infant and maternal mortality:

• 7:30–8:20 a.m.
• Speaker: Takiyah Durham, MBA, director of First Steps and Beyond, Enterprise Equitable Health Institute, Allegheny Health Network. First Steps & Beyond is a Pittsburgh-based collaborative organization working to decrease infant mortality through partnerships with community members, doulas, community-based organizations, healthcare systems, and government entities striving to eliminate preventable maternal and infant deaths. Session facilitated by Sharee Livingston, DO, FACOG, founding board member, Patients R Waiting organization; OB/GYN department chair, UPMC Lititz; Office of Diversity, Equity & Belonging, Penn State College of Medicine community partner.

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Through the Looking Glass: Reflections on Workforce Diversity in the Nursing Profession

In 2022, the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing released a report that surveyed 5,600 nurses and showed that 63% of those responding had personally experienced an act of racism in the workplace, with the transgressors being either a peer (66%), patient (63%), or a manager or supervisor (60%). Nurses from Penn State Health and Allegheny Health Network will lead a discussion of the basis for this racism and identify steps to eliminate it from the nursing field:

• Noon–12:50 p.m.
• Speakers: Leslyn Williamson, regional vice president and chief nursing officer, Penn State Health Hampden and Holy Spirit medical centers; Michele Szkolnicki, senior vice president and chief nursing officer, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Madeline Feliciano-Weiser, nurse manager, Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center; Tinamarie Estes-Washington, director of nursing, Forbes Hospital, and DEI equity officer, Forbes Hospital and Allegheny Health Network Nursing.

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The Military’s Role in Advancing National Diversity and Inclusion

Join members of the Penn State Health Military/Veteran Business Employee Resource Groups to learn how the military advocates for diversity and inclusion, including highlights of the 761st Tank Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment Borinqueneers, Tuskegee Airmen and “Buffalo Soldiers”:

• 4–4:50 p.m.
• Speaker: Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, MEd, MPPM, FACOG, senior vice president, chief diversity officer and clinical strategist, Allegheny Health Network/Highmark Health.
• Speaker contributions: Masayo Mesler, business intelligence senior analyst, Penn State Health; Terri Christiana, director of population health transitional care, Penn State Health.

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CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion ­– Penn State Health Day of Understanding Town Hall

Many health systems are advancing the Quadruple Aim: enhancing patient experience, reducing costs, optimizing population health and improving the experience and work/life balance of clinicians and care team members. Join a dialogue on how we are advancing these concepts and share your thoughts on how we can do more:

• Noon–12:50 p.m.
• Panelists: Linsey Stitt-Germak, patient experience officer, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Heather Doyle, MPH, health equity program director, Penn State Health; Rachel Yost, vice president of value-based care and population health, Penn State Health.
• Facilitator: Lynette Chappell Williams, vice president and chief diversity officer, Penn State Health.

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Drum Circle

Join a hybrid drum circle facilitated by professional drummer Dani Fiore. Drumming is a form of nonverbal communication that allows us to improve our communication skills, enhance our interpersonal connections and connect with your colleagues. Join us in listening and responding to each other. When we drum together, it feels like a breath of fresh air in this stressed-out world – you won’t want to miss this unique social connection opportunity. Bring your own drum or use one of ours, and pop in as your schedule permits:

• 1:30–3 p.m.
• Attend virtually or in person at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Room T2500.

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