Dave McIntosh, PhD, serves as Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Wake Forest Baptist Health.
Dave will participate in the panel "Key Thoughts on Improving Diversity and Inclusion and Health Equity" at Becker's Hospital Review 11th Annual Meeting. As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the conference, which will take place virtually from May 10-27th.
To learn more about the conference and Dave's session, click here.
Question: Share one change brought on by the coronavirus pandemic that you’d like to see stick, especially in healthcare?
Dave McIntosh: Well, this wasn’t brought on explicitly by the pandemic, but 2020 has illustrated the critical imperative of cultural humility, particularly as we think about interacting with our patients, peers, providers, staff, and learners who have an underrepresented identity or experience. I have witnessed a great deal of education and work by many people in order to better understand race issues in particular. I would like to see this continue to stick, with the caveat, that we also continue to take action that fosters equity and justice. Education is very important, but alone, will not solve the problem. It takes each of us being brave and doing something, particularly in the spaces where we have influence or control as leaders.
Q: What is one essential trait leaders need to lead effectively in healthcare today?
DM: An open mind. Everything that happened in 2020 has allowed us to reconsider how things are done, what we can accomplish, and what is possible. I think the days of suggesting that there is only one way to achieve a goal are gone, and we can approach our challenges with a the humble spirit of a learner and understand how we can deliver the highest quality healthcare while meeting our patients, providers, employees, and learners where they are at, cognitively and emotionally. Further, an open mind allows us to consider how issues impact different people differently. By considering issues from multiple perspectives, we can enhance our understanding of the many causes of success and failure, and find novel solutions that lead to enduring change.
Q: What would you like to see as the defining theme of 2021 for your industry?
DM: Justice and health equity.