Food and Fun Add to Colorful Event at SJPHC- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Food and Fun Add to Colorful Event at SJPHC- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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October 31, 2003
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In This Issue:
November Calendar
BW/F Launches Improvement Agenda
Back to the Books
Food and Fun Add to Colorful Event at SJPHC
From President to Principal
The Flu Bug Stops Here: Employee Flu Vaccine Program
Celebrating Health Information Management & Technology Week
The staff at the Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center (SJPHC) joined together to celebrate their various cultures at the center’s first Diversity Day event. In an effort to recognize the many ethnicities that exist among staff and patients, the joyful tone was reflected by the colorful artwork and décor that accentuated the room.
“We have a team environment. Staff look forward to events like this because we want to share our heritage with each other,” said Nayda Martinez, event coordinator and SJPHC administrative assistant.
Diversity Day stemmed from the growing popularity of Hispanic Heritage Month that began at the health center three years ago. Each staff member prepared an ethnic dish and created a poster indigenous to their culture.
“We celebrated different cultures in the past, like Irish heritage and Latino heritage; this is the first time we combined all of the cultures into one celebration,” said Tom Kieffer, SJPHC executive director and event coordinator.
Some of the cultures and countries celebrated through music, food, and posters included Guatemala, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Chile, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, England, Ireland, Italy, Venezuela and Colombia.
At the event, Kieffer addressed the staff about racial disparities in health care, an issue that has increasingly been raised nationally. “Part of this problem is access to health care, but we really need to look at the delivery of health care also,” he said.
“I want the staff to have the opportunity to think about this issue, discuss it and think of ourselves as part of the solution,” added Kieffer.