FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE– May 22nd, 2022
CONTACT: ATNRE ALLEYNE, (609) 505-4285
EMAIL: atnre@theproximitypro.com
New partnership brings together teaching hospitals nationwide to go deeper on proximity and diversity
The Proximity Project launches a year-long “Distinction in Diversity” cohort program for Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers members
Wilmington, Del. – The Proximity Project announced a new nationwide partnership with the Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers (AiAMC) to help AiAMC members take their equity, inclusion, and diversity work to the next level.
The “Distinction in Diversity” cohort program was conceived as an opportunity for healthcare institutions participating in AiAMC’s “National Initiative VIII: Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” to build stronger partnerships and further strengthen the work they do for marginalized populations.
The year-long Distinction in Diversity cohort began in April and brings together a diverse set of leaders in teaching hospitals seeking to improve health outcomes.
Participants in the Distinction in Diversity cohort meet for two hours every month to discuss assigned readings, complete organizational and leadership assessments, learn from guest speakers, and connect with other healthcare leaders working toward equity, diversity, and justice.
The leaders in the program have the opportunity to hear directly from marginalized voices on the receiving end of the healthcare system, engage in community interviews, and develop “proximity plans” to bring their work closer to the communities they serve.
David Kountz, MD, MBA, MACP is Co-Chair of AiAMC’s National Initiative VIII and Co-Chief Academic Officer and Vice President, Academic Diversity for Hackensack Meridian Health. He shared:
“This partnership provides a perfect vehicle for residents, for faculty, for other members of a team at an institution, to really gain greater insight into diversity in a very provocative and superb fashion.”
Virginia Mohl, MD, PhD is Co-Chair of AiAMC’s National Initiative VIII and the Designated Institutional Official (DIO) and Medical Director at Billings Clinic in Montana. She had this to share about the program:
“We are very excited about this project at the Billings Clinic in Montana….The Proximity Project the whole strategy is about bringing us more proximate more in contact with our communities. So the strategic part of this is very appealing to those of us at AIAMC where we are about doing.”
The cohort includes representatives from a range of institutions including Cleveland Clinic – Akron, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Baptist Health South Florida, Billings Clinic, St. Luke’s University Health Network.
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About The Proximity Project: The Proximity Project: Healthcare (TPP) is eight-week cohort experience for leaders in the healthcare industry (health systems, public health, academic medicine, community-based health services, etc.) who want to examine and reform how they interact with and serve communities of color. TPP is not an isolated, intellectual exercise— leaders connect closely with patients, caregivers, and community leaders whose truth and insights inform participants’ reflections and actions
About The Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers: The Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers (AIAMC) is a national organization of approximately 90 independent teaching hospitals committed to delivering exceptional patient care through education and innovation. We create and implement real-world, sustainable solutions that equip our members to thrive in the ever-changing regulatory and accreditation environment. The AIAMC has an almost 30-year track record of leveraging graduate medical education (GME) as a strategic asset to achieve better outcomes. Member institutions are represented by accomplished, forward-thinking individuals, including leaders in national accrediting organizations and other influential industry roles.
