Blog #6: Diversity

Talk about what diversity means to you.  And explain how valuing and championing diversity will help you in your career.

Post the diversity statements from 5 companies or organizations in your field of interest, comment how they are similar and/or different.  How do each of these fit with your own diversity values?

In response to the questions above:

When I think of diversity I think of having an existence of the variety of different people we have all around us, in the workplace, school and in general life.  This may not necessarily pertain to just race or religion, but also the way things are handled or the way that people participate in any aspect of life regardless if some people are similar.  Diversity can also be applied to other things than people.  Animals and plants all have diversity in use, purpose and their own genetics.  There is diversity in everything; products, jobs, hobbies, molecules and ways of thinking all have diversity and this variety is needed for life.  Valuing diversity will help me in my career by not discriminating against bosses, co-workers and patients.  It will allow me be aware of the differences in people and things around me so I can be the best I can be for what I will do for my career.  If I am able to do this I will most likely get the wage I want to support my family and fully enjoy my job.

Here are some diversity statements of companies/organizations in my field of interest:

1.       The College of St. Scholastica http://www.css.edu/About/Leadership/Guiding-Documents.html

Diversity Statement
The College of St. Scholastica is committed to fostering a learning environment that is culturally diverse and pluralistic. Informed by our Benedictine heritage and its values of community, hospitality, respect, stewardship and love of learning, we are compelled to be open to diverse points of view and not avoid dissent, while constantly being mindful of what it is to be an engaged community working for social justice. To do so recognizes human dignity, difference and equality that includes, but is not limited to: race, age, class, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities/qualities, and ethnicity.

In our striving to be an inclusive community, we must engage in intellectual discourse and exchange if we hope to develop an understanding of our commonalities and differences, even if this discourse and exchange result in conflict and change. The challenge that lies before us as a community is to embody in our institutional life what it means to be truly committed to cultural diversity and pluralism.

2.       American Physical Therapy Acossiation http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/APTAorg/About_Us/Policies/BOD/Publications/PublicationofPolicyStatement.pdf#search=%22diversity statement%22 

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) prohibits preferential or adverse discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability or health status in all areas including, but not limited to, its qualifications for membership, rights of members, policies, programs, activities, and employment practices. APTA is committed to promoting cultural diversity throughout the profession and the Association.

3.    St. John’s Hospital, MN http://www.healtheast.org/about-healtheast/healtheast-care-system/care-for-all-cultures.html?q=diversity+statement

We welcome the diversity of our patients, their loved ones, employees and providers.

We are patient-centered and culturally responsive, respecting the beliefs, values and practices of the community and our workforce.

4.     University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse http://www.uwlax.edu/aaod/resources_home.htm

We seek a colleague who shares the department’s commitment to diversity and who will be a dedicated teacher, active scholar, and mentor for students with diverse backgrounds, preparation, and career goals.

We are an inclusive learning community that values varying perspectives that come with diverse faculty, staff and student populations.

5.      Mayo Clinic http://www.mayo.edu/diversity/meet-us/diversity-policy-statement

Mayo Clinic's education enterprise promotes diversity and the added dimension that diverse students and faculty bring to each of its schools and ultimately to patient care. Such attributes include, but are not limited to, race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military veteran's status, and socio-economic status.

We strive to maintain and further develop a learning environment in which individual differences are valued, allowing all staff and students to contribute to, and develop their understanding of, local and global communities.

As a medical practice, we serve patients, families and one another with respect, concern, courtesy and responsiveness. A climate that nurtures and supports the contributions of every individual is essential to Mayo Clinic's success in patient care, education and research. Creating and sustaining this climate are the responsibilities of all who provide service and train at Mayo Clinic.

Our goal is to create a caring service environment in which individual differences are valued, allowing all staff to achieve their fullest potential.

All of these diversity statements are similar because they state that they accept and will not discriminate against any people of diverse backgrounds.  Some but not all seem to say that they want to create an environment or setting that accepts the diversity of everybody and will work to creating a place of diversity.  They are different by some saying they want to create that environment while others don’t and just say that they accept the diversity and realize that it is present.

These fit with my values of diversity in the sense that I accept how different everyone is and that this diversity will always be present.  I value an environment where diversity is tolerated and I want to create this environment for my future patients because I want them to be comfortable and trust me.  I will strive to serve and provide care for every patient no matter their background or lifestyle because I believe it is the right thing to do.  I hope to value everybody’s differences just like most of these diversity statements state.