Spokane NAACP and Providence are partnering with local organizations and schools to provide health care career development opportunities for communities of color.
In February, Providence hosted students from Rogers High School on the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center campus for a hands-on educational experience. Students learned from Providence caregivers, including nurses and surgical technicians, at interactive learning stations.
The event is part of ongoing work by Spokane NAACP Health Committee, which meets regularly with Rogers High School students at their school. This group’s goal is to make careers in health care more accessible for everyone, creating a health care system that better reflects the diversity of our community.
"Our committee is working to ensure everyone who wants to work in healthcare has the same opportunity regardless of economic status, ethnicity, or skin color," said Elin Zander, Spokane NAACP Health Committee Chair. "We are grateful to Providence for providing this exciting opportunity to the Rogers students."
"All of us should have the opportunity to be cared for by healthcare providers who not only look like us, but who also understand our life experiences and culture," said Lisa Gardner, Spokane NAACP Branch Vice President. "If we can do that, someday, our healthcare system will look more like the community it serves, and patients will experience a level of comfort and receive the care they deserve."
This partnership is one way that Providence is shaping a more inclusive workforce, which leads to better care for our community.
“Providence is committed to diversity and inclusion by creating space for everyone to bring their perspectives, identities, and life experiences to service,” said Anna Franklin, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for Providence Eastern Washington/Montana. “Together, we can promote health for a better world by creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce.”
This is the first off-campus, in-person student event coordinated by Spokane NAACP Health Committee since the pandemic started.
Organizations represented on Spokane NAACP Health Committee:
- Providence
- Carl Maxey Center
- CHAS
- Better Health Together
- Health & Justice Recovery Alliance
- Eastern Washington University
- Whitworth University
- Washington State University Health Sciences and Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
- University of Washington School of Medicine Spokane
- Community Colleges of Spokane
- Gonzaga University
- Communities in Schools Spokane
- Spokane Public Schools (Rogers High School)
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