As psychologists whose commitment to ethical principles bar us from supporting or engaging in maleficence or injustice and require us to respect the dignity and worth of all people, and, as employees of PSJH (Providence St Joseph Health), an organization who’s core values of Compassion, Dignity and Justice complement these ethical principles, the PMG Postdoctoral Residency program is committed to standing in solidarity against the institutional and societal structures of inequity that result in oppression and racism. As such, our PMG postdoctoral residency provides an inclusive home for all trainees regardless of race, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion. This is also enforced in PSJH HR policies and procedures. In addition to our promise to adhere to professional ethics and values, we have committed equally, as caregivers of PSJH, to the organization’s mission of “…serving all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable.” It is in this spirit that we act on those ideals yielding our privilege in service to the cause of anti-racism, anti-oppression, and social justice. We stand firmly against those structures and biases that repeatedly and relentlessly allow for oppression, exclusion, and inequity. We work to demand accountability and systemic change in our own work and in the work of the systems we encounter. The urgent, but enduring action we take beyond our words includes enacting and influencing policy including, but not limited to addressing the racial inequities that affect the health of our patients and the wellbeing of our caregivers. We invite you to join us and help to address the racism we have failed to recognize in our communities and in our country for far too long. A few of the highlights of the actions and initiatives we are engaging in as a department and organization include:
Residency Recruitment: The residency program works to ensure recruiting trainees from sources that advance diverse talent. When reviewing applicants, the training committee performs a holistic review that considers the whole person. To ensure we are actively recruiting trainees from underrepresented minority groups, we not only focus on academic excellence and preparation, but also look for qualities such as leadership and contributions to the community. We seek diversity in background and experience and potential for positive contributions to our department.
Didactics: Didactic topics include social determinants of health, structural racism, culturally informed care, LGBTQ+ health and mental health, diversity, equity, and inclusion in relation to the care teams we work in as Behavioral Health Providers as well as the patients we serve, addressing health inequity and disparities, and much more. Didactic experiences also include our monthly departmental meetings where our Behavioral Health Providers engage in group and self-guided learnings and discussions related to structural racism and oppression.
Healthcare Research and Other Scholarly Activity: As part of the larger Providence St. Joseph Health system – Providence Medical Group engages in scholarly research dedicated to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare. You may find peer-reviewed publications, conference abstracts, book/chapter citations, and other scholarly multimedia as selected and deposited by the system’s Library Services, individual departments, and institutes linked here.
Providence Oregon’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Providence Oregon embodies our commitment to advancing world-class health and human connection through our shared commitment to embracing individual differences and similarities which we believe will strengthen our vision, mission, and values. We aim to remove barriers to enabling access to resources and opportunities catered to an individual’s unique needs. And we are deliberate about fostering a culture that engages diversity in a way that creates space for value and respect of every individual. A commitment from our president and CEO:
“We’ll continue to take an honest look at ourselves. This includes doing our part to end racial disparities in health care. It also includes creating a diverse workforce reflecting the communities we serve, and an inclusive and equitable culture where everyone feels they belong.”
– Rod Hochman, M.D., president and CEO, Providence, April 21, 2021
