Our mission and vision include a commitment to providing culturally responsive care for all patients

In 2020, the Penn State Health board approved a modification of the health system’s mission and vision to include that we will “continually improve the health and well-being of the people of Pennsylvania, and beyond.” One of the ways we will accomplish this is by providing patients with excellent, compassionate, culturally responsive and equitable care. Our vision is to be Pennsylvania’s most trusted health care organization by delivering excellent care and combining the most advanced and innovative techniques in medicine with compassionate and culturally responsive service for patients, families and communities.

The Penn State Health Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion provides employees with compassionate and culturally responsive care skills development through the Inclusion Academy because we are mindful of how our decisions affect vulnerable and underrepresented populations. The Inclusion Academy Dimensions of Diversity series includes diversity educational programs that are open to Penn State Health patients and community members, as well as additional sessions for our senior leadership team and human resources professionals. We are committed to reducing the impact of unconscious bias and eliminating microaggressions in patient care and the workplace. To do this, monthly Upstander Cafés provide an opportunity for our employees to have productive conversations about confronting and intervening in situations where there are microaggressions or other forms of bias. 

Every year, the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosts Inclusion Week, which features activities — both educational programs and cultural events — to increase awareness of diversity and inclusion.