The American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Institute for Diversity and Health Equity has named Northwell Health as an honoree of the AHA’s Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care award.

The award recognizes hospitals and health systems for their efforts to reduce health care inequities, and advance diversity and inclusion. Northwell and three other health systems will be honored July 25 at the AHA’s Leadership Summit in San Diego, CA. 

The AHA recognized Northwell for addressing the health disparities that exist in many of the populations it serves throughout Long Island, New York City and Westchester County. More than half of Northwell’s workforce is ethnically and racially diverse, reflecting the composition of the communities it serves. For example, women represent 72 percent of Northwell’s workforce, and more than half that number serve in executive leadership roles.

The health system is also committed to internal and external education on the importance of collecting race, ethnic and language (REaL) data to improve patient outcomes and community care. With philanthropic support from JPMorgan, Northwell established a community health workers program that recruits and trains GED or high school graduates who are unemployed or under-employed, and connects them with entry-level health care and social service positions.

“We are honored to receive this recognition, which validates our health care delivery model and fosters a partnership with our patients, teams and communities, enabling us to integrate the tenets of diversity, inclusion and health equity with the goal of improving health outcomes,” said Jennifer H. Mieres, MD, senior vice president of Northwell’s Center for Equity of Care, and chief diversity and inclusion officer.

“We are proud of this recognition as we continue raising the bar of health equity at Northwell,” said Michael Wright, the health system’s vice president of diversity and health equity. “This reinforces the work we do every day in providing health care to our diverse communities while fostering an environment of dignity, respect and inclusion.”