Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1169964
33 33 CEO/STRATEGY After internal pushback, Mount Sinai's med school updates diversity pledge By Emily Rappleye N ew York City-based Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is revamping its commit- ment to diversity, inclusion and gender equity, aer facing a discrimination lawsuit and student petition to improve culture earlier this year. e medical school announced on Aug. 5 a "robust new organizational statement on diversity," that expands and updates its past pledge to promote diversity and inclusion. e school will re- view and update this statement annually. e Icahn School of Medicine says the new statement builds on the Racism and Bias Initiative, an effort that began in 2015 to address the effects of racism and bias in medical education and healthcare, as well as its more recent efforts in this space, like the creation of a Dean for Gender Equity in January. Along with its enhanced statement on diversity, the Icahn School of Medicine also pledged Aug. 5 to only host and organize panels that include female and/or minority speakers. e policy will take effect next year. It also plans to conduct listening tours among students, trainees and faculty on how to improve the organization. "As critical conversations about equity happen nationwide, it is incumbent on institutions, both inside and outside medicine, to rigorously examine their policies and climate, pinpoint ways to improve, and take action," medical school dean Dennis Charney, MD, said in a news release. ese improvements come on the heels of some critical feedback. In April, eight current and former employees of the medical school's Arnhold Institute for Global Health filed a feder- al lawsuit against the health system for alleged age and gender discrimination that resulted in women leaving senior leadership positions. e lawsuit spurred medical school students to organize around the issue. ey created a petition and called on the board to join Time's Up Healthcare, a branch of the Time's Up movement. Time's Up Healthcare was created to combat sexual harassment and inequity in hospitals and other healthcare organizations. n Catholic Health announces 7 leadership changes By Anuja Vaidya B uffalo, N.Y.-based Catholic Health reorganized its senior leadership team in August. Joyce Markiewicz, previously pres- ident and CEO of home and com- munity-based care, will now serve as chief business development of- ficer of the health system. Tom Gleason was promoted to se- nior vice president of home and community-based care, after serv- ing as COO of home and commu- nity-based care since 2016. Marty Boryszak, former president and CEO of Sisters of Charity Hos- pital in Buffalo, was named senior vice president for acute care ser- vices for the health system. John Sperrazza will step in as pres- ident of Sisters of Charity Hospital and its St. Joseph Campus. Mr. Sperrazza was previously COO of Sisters of Charity Hospital. C.J. Urlaub, previously president and CEO of Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, was appointed senior vice president of strategic partnerships, integration and care delivery-Ni- agara County for Catholic Health. Mr. Urlaub will also become pres- ident of Mount St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston, N.Y., as part of his new responsibilities, replacing Gary Tucker, who is retiring. Eddie Bratko will become presi- dent of Mercy Hospital of Buffalo. He was previously its COO. "This new leadership structure will build on the high-quality care that already exists within our system and drive development, innova- tion and efficiencies that will have an even greater impact on the health of our community," Catholic Health President and CEO Mark Sullivan said in a news release. n Rural hospital had staff making trips to Dollar General, former nurse says By Emily Rappleye A former nurse says Sheridan (Mich.) Community Hospital was mismanaged by leadership and lacked supplies — so much so that nursing staff went to Dollar General to make purchases, reported local WOOD TV's investigative team, Target 8. Former SCH nurse Teresa Baker, RN, approached WOOD TV after news broke of the hospital CEO's termination. Ms. Baker shared a letter with the news station that she wrote to human resources last year when she retired. In the letter, Ms. Baker noted the difficulties of running a rural hospital but said, "Patient care has suf- fered," due to leadership and a "toxic environment that permeates the hospital." The rural hospital's board fired CEO Randy Flechsig Aug. 28. Mr. Flechsig has de- nied claims of mismanagement. He previously told WOOD TV the hospital was doing well after it outsourced inpatient services. In her letter, Ms. Baker alleges staff were disrespected, intimidated and overworked. She said the hospital did not have enough supplies," nursing staff has gone to the Dollar General store," and surgeries have been delayed because of a lack of supplies. She did not receive a response to her letter, according to the report. n