GW Health PR’s Post

This month is National Minority Health Month and, for those who are unaware, the healthcare system in the U.S. is still incredibly racially biased. This leads to consistent underdiagnosed illnesses in BIPOC communities due to outdated guidelines used by medical practitioners. Here's some quick stats: - African Americans are 30% more likely to die prematurely from heart disease than White people. - Asian Americans have the highest rates of stomach and liver cancers, and the lowest cancer screening rates. - American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest suicide rate and are also more likely to die from unintentional injuries than other groups. As companies continue to position themselves as leaders in their respective industries, they should consider intersectional practices for employee wellness benefits. It's nice to have your leadership post with hashtags on LinkedIn this month but that can be received negatively by your employees (and beyond) if you aren't backing up your statements with actions. That's where we are in PR and Communications now. Values must be backed up with actions. I wrote all that to say: before you post about these nationally celebrated months, consider what your company or organization is doing to authentically support these efforts. If you already have a practice in place, this is the perfect time to celebrate it. If not, consider what you can implement and then champion this effort in the future so that your campaign doesn't seem empty. #nationalminorityhealthmonth #publicrelations #executivecommunications #communications

True inclusion means elevating the voices of those with lived experience. The Specialty Health Ambassador Program is here to change the narrative, building a connected, empowered community for neurodiverse individuals. Together, we’re creating a legacy of unity, visibility, and hope.  Neurodiverse voices are often spoken for rather than spoken with. Many news sources tell stories about neurodiversity but rarely include the perspectives of those who live it. This gap makes true inclusion feel even further out of reach. The Specialty Health Ambassador Program aims to change that, fostering not only personal voices for individuals with lived experience but also building a connected, empowered community. This mission is both a legacy and a lifeline of hope.     Neurodiverse communities are often divided by specific diagnoses, which can limit opportunities for collaboration and visibility. Without many voices speaking out or sharing resources, it’s easy to feel isolated. While other minority communities have unified around shared identities, the neurodiverse community still struggles to find its collective voice. That’s why platforms like the SHA Program are so essential. A true community can’t exist without individuals connecting, supporting one another, and sharing their journeys.     Through teaching, engagement, and advocacy, the SHA Program is creating a lasting impact and showing the broader community what success looks like for neurodiverse individuals. #Trailblazers #LegacyOfHope

Making sure that we have diverse representation in our clinical trials is so important for the validity and impact of our research findings. Looking forward to attending this seminar and learning from the best! :) #PatientDiversity #ClinicalTrialDiversity

To truly master the art of connection and become fluent in human, we must fully immerse ourselves in the experiences and stories of those we wish to engage. This is particularly crucial when interacting with the vibrant LatinX community, where identity is not just a backdrop but a proud declaration of presence and power. UNC Health's two-day event exemplifies this deep engagement, focusing on enhancing the Hispanic experience by celebrating and embedding cultural awareness into every aspect of its operations. Sessions like "ERG Excellence: The Key to Unlock Growth" and "Elevating Equity and Inclusion for the Hispanic Community at UNC Health" have not only highlighted best practices but have significantly shaped the professional environment. These initiatives have produced remarkable outcomes, including an enhanced understanding of Hispanic cultural competencies and the strategic integration of inclusivity into core strategies. By recognizing the essential role of the Hispanic market in driving growth and innovation, UNC Health has created a truly inclusive environment that: → Supports everyone → Uplifts all employees → And empowers a whole segment of society to thrive Engagement with the LatinX community, therefore, must be rooted in: → Respect → Celebration → And active participation in their narrative It’s about: → Listening deeply → Sharing authentically → And showing up wholeheartedly Commitment to these principles is not just setting a standard; it's paving a pathway toward a more inclusive and dynamic future. Recognizing the significant power of the LatinX community's identity is key. This community takes pride in who they are, and companies that truly embrace this will attract and retain top talent. Let's learn from UNC Health's effective models: 👉🏽 By valuing and celebrating the rich identities of the LatinX community, we not only build bridges but also strengthen our organizations with the diversity of thought and experience they bring to the table. To find more insightful case-studies, download my FREE research paper, "Elevating the Hispanic Experience: Actionable Strategies for Workplace Transformation" https://lnkd.in/eMv47tih

🚀 Join Scout for an upcoming webinar to explore the crucial role of diversity in #clinicaltrials and learn practical strategies to improve representation. 🌍 Featured speakers will discuss how diverse trials lead to personalized healthcare solutions and tackle challenges like mistrust, logistical barriers, and underrepresentation. Attendees will learn how to foster inclusive research by involving underrepresented groups and building trust through community engagement. 🔗 REGISTER HERE: https://buff.ly/3A9113S #DrugDevelopment #ClinicalResearch #PatientRecruitment #PatientDiversity #ClinicalTrialDiversity

Proud to have been invited to take part in this campaign as part of #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek Yesterday's panel included a host of incredibly talented and insightful professionals within the ND space (including Diane Wass (nee MacArthur) Prof. Amanda Kirby, Dr Emma Mahoney, Paul Hutchings and Alex Lincoln). There was a lot to get through in the session, so I thought it may be helpful to share some key points (and some points we didn’t get to discuss). It’s important to educate ourselves and work with each other to create more inclusive spaces. The #ThinkingDifferent toolkit is a great starting point. 🔵 Don’t be scared to have a conversation because you are worried that you may say the wrong thing. 🔵 Often very simple changes can make a big difference. 🔵 We need to create cultures that value differences. 🔵 When creating teams, think about playing to strengths and skills. 🔵 We shouldn't just think about legal requirements, but more importantly about how we can create an inclusive culture. 🔵 We need senior leaders to open up discussion across their organisations, to reduce any stigma around neurodiversity. 🔵 Make sure that neurodiversity is included within your Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategies and your policies are viewed with neuroinclusion in mind. 🔵 Access to Work (ATW) is a government programme to support people with disabilities in employment. If the help an individual needs isn’t covered by the employer making reasonable adjustments, it may be possible to get help from ATW (including the potential for workplace coaching and training).   And some of my own further reflections:   ⏺ Some ‘accommodations’ can be good practice for everyone. For example, sharing communication preferences and asking others about how they like to work, this is just really good practice for effective team working and shouldn’t be exclusive to those who are neurodivergent.   ⏺ The healthcare communications industry often aspires to be more inclusive and more creative. Let’s create structures that embrace and support that and help everyone to thrive!

🎓 Companies often express interest in helping address racial disparities within the U.S., but often fall short of galvanizing support for DEI initiatives. What messaging strategies might drive support for DEI and broader social change initiatives?: 👇   ✏️Across 4 studies, behavioral scientists examined which of the following message types were more effective in driving support for DEI and social change initiatives: -Messages highlighting economic-based disparities between Black and White Americans -Messages highlighting health-based disparities between Black and White Americans     🔬 Researchers found that messages about health- (vs. economic-)based inequalities... -Lead to greater engagement with relevant content on social media -More buy-in and support for DEI-related policies   🧠 What is special about health-related messaging? -People view health disparities as violating people’s rights that should not be infringed on -Messages about health disparities invoke feelings of injustice, which galvanizes people's support for change   💊 What does this have to do with healthcare & pharma market research? -Companies in the health and wellness space have a duty to provide equitable care for patients across all walks of life -Recognizing this duty, companies often initiate DEI initiatives; however, they fail to execute due to lack of sustained interest and support among key stakeholders -The current work suggests that highlighting health-related disparities between majority- and minority-group members may spur key stakeholders (e.g., customers making donations, leaders making DEI-related policies) to support DEI-related initiatives  -Highlighting the scope of health-related disparities is also a good in itself: past research has shown that people vastly underestimate the magnitude of social disparities; educating key stakeholders on the scope of health-related disparities may spur a greater portion of them to take action to mitigate it    🎓 Want more B-Sci Bites & practical insights? - Add or follow me James Dunlea, Ph.D. (Head of Behavioral Science) and/or Chris Carles (Vice President) - Follow Healogix and visit our web page: https://healogix.com/    #PharmaMarketing #HealthcareInnovation #BehavioralScience #DEI #EquitableCare #Diversity #Psychology

I love this Healogix #BSciBite because it addresses an incredibly important Q: what types of messages/information galvanizes people to take action aimed at reducing societal disparities? Work by Riana Brown, PhD and colleagues shows that highlighting disparities in health-related (versus economic) outcomes spurs greater social media engagement and support for disparity-mitigating policy. Further, reading about racial health disparities elicits greater support for action compared with economic- or belonging-based disparities. This occurs, in part, because people view health disparities as violating people's moral rights, which enhances perceived injustice. IMO, the take-away from this work isn't that certain types of inequality are worse than others. However, this work does show that some forms of inequality weigh heavier in people's minds than others. I see this work having huge implications for how entities--both individuals and corporations--devise #DEI-related messaging strategies to get key stakeholders on-board with addressing key societal issues. #BehavioralScience #DEI #EquitableCare #Diversity #Psychology

Something cool happened today… 🚀I received an email letting me know that I’d be published as an author for the work I did on integrating PrEP into OB/GYN private practice clinics in the Central New York area. Huge shoutout to Tiffany Lloyd for being the best mentor and leading the charge on reproductive reform in the CNY region. Honestly, when I started this work, I never thought publication would be the outcome, but it goes to show—you can never underestimate the power of connection. Earlier this year, I thought to develop a board of diverse professionals for a passion project. Due to crazy schedules and life, we only managed to have one interest meeting. But I recently reconnected with a colleague from that group, and it reminded me of how authentic relationships can lead to the unknown—just like this publication. Whether it’s in business, community projects, or personal growth, keeping relationships alive—especially during those quieter moments—can lead to unexpected opportunities and outcomes. Authenticity and fostering genuine connections bring value in ways you never imagined. As I look ahead to all the things I want to accomplish before year end, I’m more convinced than ever that staying true to yourself and the people you meet along the way is how we create the most meaningful impact. Here’s to embracing the unexpected and celebrating the power of connection in both life and business. Stay authentic, keep building, and watch what happens next. #BusinessGrowth #Networking #CommunityBuilding #RelationshipsMatter #Authenticity #CommunalGood

June is a month of diversity, equity and inclusion (#DEI). Several DEI celebrations are observed, including Juneteenth and Pride Month. Explore these six examples of health systems expressing their allyship and some tips for showing your support. We love how authentically organizations like OhioHealth, Memorial Healthcare System, Children's Health, Beth Israel Lahey Health, UW Health and University of Maryland Medical System embrace #PrideMonth and #Juneteenth. https://lnkd.in/efd63kUg