Group Receives $1.5M Grant To Increase Black Representation On Medical Boards

by Daniel Johnson September 8, 2024 The grant comes from healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente. The Black Directors Health Equity Agenda (BDHEA), a healthcare non-profit organization that brings together board directors, senior executives, and educators to address healthcare disparities affecting Black people, was awarded a $1.5 million grant by Kaiser Permanente to continue that work.  According to a press release, the grant will be used to support BDHEA’s Board Diversification and Inclusion Project, a project that looks to create diverse hospital and other healthcare boards. The press release also states that the organization’s goal of eliminating health disparities in Black communities will be significantly impacted through the three-year grant funding period. This, in collaboration with their alliances with Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and U.S. World News Report, puts BDHEA in a position to push their model forward.  According to BDHEA Executive Director Deborah Phillips, “Representation matters, and it is crucial to ensure diverse voices are heard in boardrooms across the healthcare sector. Our work extends beyond representation and invites diverse perspectives and ideas to identify critical health equity solutions.” Dr. Ronald L. Copeland, the senior vice president and chief Equity, Inclusion and Diversity officer for Kaiser Permanente, echoed Phillips statement. “To...