Vanessa Nazario, Corporate Director, Chief Diversity Officer at Memorial Healthcare System (MHS) has developed and implemented several DEI initiatives that bring cultural awareness and build a sense of belonging. She secured the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index designation for Memorial Regional Hospital. This was a major endeavor requiring the collaboration and support of key internal partners, and it ultimately showcased a commitment to nurturing a safe environment for the LGBTQ+ community. Vanessa also elevated the conversation on health disparities and initiated the System’s Health Equity strategy.
To ensure impactful outcomes, Vanessa implemented several best practices. With executive leadership support, she communicated clear expectations on outcomes for each area of the DEI strategy to all organizational areas. Through communication, Vanessa develops DEI champions and can identify individuals who are resisting the DEI work, so she can hold conversations about the importance of an inclusive, more resilient workplace. She leads with compassion and empathy, and her starting premise is that people always want to be treated with respect and dignity.
FAVORITE QUOTE: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou