Leadership's Role in Paving the Path to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Laboratory Medicine

Leadership is critical in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in laboratory medicine and pathology. Leaders must foster environments that embrace diverse perspectives, fair treatment, and inclusion. By highlighting emotional intelligence, trauma-informed leadership, and DEI principles, this article advocates for leadership that adapts to the needs of diverse teams and that fosters their empowerment in providing patient-centered care. This article also discusses how DEI-informed leadership can address gaps in formal leadership training and contributes to improved health care outcomes, staff retention, and the development of future leaders at all levels.