Community leaders and more than 25 protesters gathered in front of Orlando Health System’s main campus Friday afternoon calling upon the hospital to alter the racial and ethnic composition of its board of directors and senior staff to be more reflective of the community.
“According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Orange County is 20.8% African American and 26.9% Hispanic, meaning nearly half of Orange County’s residents are minorities,” said State Senator Gary Siplin. “But the board of directors and senior staff of Orlando Health fail to reflect anything close to that level of diversity. That needs to change”
A review of the Board and leadership of Orlando Health, which receives state and federal taxpayer dollars, reveals that only 2 of their 16 Board members are minority and 1 of their 32 top staff members identified on their own website are minority. In addition, Orlando Health does not appear to make any effort to solicit the procurement of goods and services and construction from minority owned companies.
Hispanic Community Activist Amy Mercado also called upon Orlando Health to become more diverse. “Orlando Health preaches about their commitment to the community they serve, but their corporate board sure doesn’t look like my community,” she said.
“Orlando Health didn’t hesitate to ask the community to rally to their defense when the state tried to cut their Level 1 Trauma center funding,” Siplin added. “We were there for them – why are they not there for us? Florida Hospital, one of their healthcare competitors, has a diversity program. Why don’t they? The newly constructed Nemours Hospital has a diversity program as well. We call upon them today to take immediate steps to be more reflective of the composition of our community.”
Most major corporations in Florida, and some of Orlando Health’s counterpart hospitals in Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami, have minority business offices or diversity officers that ensure that their organizations or corporations reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. This is not the case with Orlando Health.
For more information, individuals can visit www.stoporlandohealthbias.com and sign-up to receive additional information and have their voice heard.
Orlando Health has Discriminated against African Ameticans for it’s entire existence.
Thank God these Community Leaders are Joining those who have worked to change these conditions for many years. Thank you all. Dr. T.Adams, ThD, Chairman Florida People United To Serve Humanity, SM.
Orlando Health discriminates against all non-white and all non-straight patients, employees and business partners because they don not have policies that guide them to be more culturally competent in regard to gender, sexual orientation, race, etc. And they discriminate against all groups outside white, straight people because of the homogenous make up of the organizations senior staff and board.
I have been trying to receive an entry level position in the Fl. Hospital for 2 years and I have clinical experience but to no avail every time. I don’t know if it’s because I’m young or that I’m African American albeit either way it is discrimination.