The Disparity Challenge: How Governance Can Lead the Way on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Hospitals, health systems, pharmaceutical companies, device makers, and payers have a responsibility to provide high-quality, innovative, cost-effective care and services to their patients and communities. The governing boards of these institutions provide the vision, strategy, and resources and choose the best leaders to achieve those outcomes. Healthcare boards can play a vital role in ensuring that resources are distributed where they are most needed. The need is great in communities of racial and ethnic diversity, which are almost always underserved-a preexisting condition that came into stark relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Widespread inequities in access to care, housing, nutrition, and other components of good health were documented, and boards promised to pursue change, including becoming more diverse themselves. More than two years later, healthcare boards and senior executives remain mostly white and male. This continuing reality is especially unfortunate because diversity in governance and the C-suite has positive implications for financial, operational, and clinical success, including solving persistent inequities and disparities experienced in disadvantaged communities.