The Mayo Clinic Rochester Department of Emergency Medicine (EM) believes in building and growing a workforce that mirrors our patient population and includes individuals from varying backgrounds. This raises awareness of broader societal issues and helps us to develop innovative solutions, improve patient outcomes, and protect against employee burnout by promoting a culture of inclusion. We believe that diversity is a part of our commitment to excellence in all three shields: patient care, research, and education.

Our department

Mayo Clinic has a structured compensation model that ensures pay equity for salaried physicians. The leadership team is dedicated to addressing the recruitment, retention, and advancement of the workforce so that it reflects the served community. Leaders from diverse backgrounds and experiences result in a greater depth of perspective and viewpoints for the department, leading to richer research, better patient outcomes, and improved engagement with marginalized communities.

ED Belonging mission statement

The Mayo Clinic Rochester Emergency Department Belonging (ED Belonging) Council was formed in response to our institution’s 2020 ceremonial commitment to “close the door” on racism. The ED Belonging Council aims to eliminate healthcare disparities and advance a fair and just environment for ED patients and employees.

The ED Belonging Council will:

• Support Mayo Clinic values of RICH TIES (Respect, Integrity, Compassion, Healing, Teamwork, Innovation, Excellence, Stewardship)
• Evaluate existing education, practice, patient outcomes, and research systems for unintended or unconscious bias
• Gather stakeholder input and benchmark best practices to initiate projects, create innovations, and make recommendations as a multidisciplinary deliberative body for sustained improvement in these areas

The ED Belonging Council’s chair and co-chair receive protected time from the Department of EM to ensure its success. The Council continues to grow and currently has representation from nursing, resident, consultant (attending physician), nurse practitioner/physician assistant, pharmacy, social work and clinical support staff groups and also includes our ED quality improvement specialist. Recent projects include educational offerings on implicit bias, development of an improved pain management approach for sickle cell patients, and introduction of gender-affirming care concepts for transgender and gender diverse patients.

ED Belonging Residency Partnership

The ED Belonging Council includes active engagement from two members of the residency program leadership, Dr. Alex Finch and Dr. Sara Hevesi, in addition to the current Resident Belonging Liaison, Dr. Taylor Christian. Residency leadership and resident delegates provide insight into the educational experience and focus on tailoring initiatives to departmental learners.

Belonging resources

• Mayo Clinic will create a global environment of empowered belonging for everyone, so all perspectives and personal experiences are welcomed, acknowledged, and appreciated. One way to exemplify the Mayo Clinic Values is through Mayo Employee Resource Group participation, also known as a MERG (pronounced 'merge'). These are voluntary, employee-led affinity groups to promote belonging, increase cultural awareness, and foster an environment of respect and inclusivity. Any Mayo Clinic employee can join a group of interest and choose their level of involvement.
• The Healing the Emotional Lives of Peers (HELP) Program offers peer support to all employees who experience a stressful or traumatic workplace event, including those who experience racism and discrimination in the workplace. Mayo Clinic stands against racism and prejudice in all forms. However, we acknowledge it still occurs and our staff may be experiencing the emotional impact. In collaboration with the enterprise Office of Belonging and Employee Wellbeing, peer support is available for any employee involved in workplace discrimination.
• Reflect. Inspire. Strengthen. Empower. for Equity (RISE) is a monthly podcast series and annual conference joining leading physicians, scientists, and innovators from Mayo Clinic and beyond in candid conversations about what it's going to take to transform health care for a more just, more equitable future.

Many more initiatives, programs, and resources contribute to an equitable, inclusive environment that fosters resident well-being, which may not be listed above. For more information, please visit Belonging at Mayo Clinic.