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, an organization who’s core values of Compassion, Dignity and Justice complement these ethical principles, the PMG Postdoctoral Internship 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 internship is dedicated to providing an inclusive home for all trainees regardless of race, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion. This is also enforced in our PSJH HR policies and procedures. In addition to our promise to adhere to these 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:
Behavioral Health Provider Diversity Workgroup: A workgroup led by Behavioral Health Providers – licensed and trainees - that serves as a liaison to other organizational Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees to promote education, awareness, and advocacy related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the department, organization, and our communities.
Internship Recruitment: The internship program works to ensure recruiting trainees from sources that ensure diverse talent. In reviewing applicants, the training committee performs a holistic review that takes into consideration 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 at every meeting.
The Behavioral Health Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
This committee is comprised of nurses, physicians, psychiatrists, social
workers, counselors, psychologists, administrative caregivers, and more
from the Oregon Region department of Behavioral Health. The committee
works to foster a departmental culture in which achieving equity, diversity
and inclusivity are high priorities. The committee meets monthly and is
actively engaged with initiatives both within the department and throughout
the PSJH system. The committee seeks to foster a departmental culture
of respect, equity, and inclusiveness among its diverse staff, trainees,
and faculty and work in concert with the system-level Chief Diversity
Officer as well as other system-level DEI committees to ensure policies,
recruitment, standards, and care are filtered through the lenses of diversity,
equity, and inclusion.
The Behavioral Health Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Healthcare Research and Other Scholarly Activity Providence as part of the larger Providence St. Joseph Health system 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 here.
