BETHLEHEM, Pa. — After a former medical resident complained of systemic racism, Lehigh Valley Health Network said Friday it has made changes to its human resources department, as well as to the way it handles such concerns.
The changes come after an LVHN resident Dr. Robert Ray Jr. posted a blog titled “Racism in Medical Education: An Unfortunate Ending To My Time At Lehigh Valley Health Network.”
The piece was posted in June 2023 and detailed examples of racism during his last year of residency, which he said “was destroyed by hatred and prejudice in an attempt to silence me.”
"LVHN condemns all forms of racism, discrimination and harassment."Lehigh Valley Health Network news release
Since the posting, LVHN hired the law firm of King & Spalding to conduct a third-party review, according to a news release.
“LVHN condemns all forms of racism, discrimination and harassment, and strives to maintain a culture of respect, inclusion and equality,” the release said.
The assessment has been concluded and new policy was set in place in January, according to the release.
King & Spalding made recommendations of “actions that can be taken to avoid similar issues from arising in the future.”
LVHN responds with actions
LVHN said it now is implementing those suggestions by:
- Reorganizing its human resources department
- Revising the process for submitting and investigating concerns raised internally through the human resources department
- Creating a more senior Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or DEI, position with involvement in leadership meetings to ensure high-level visibility and promote DEI initiatives
- Revising its dress code policy with standards that prevent reliance on subjective interpretation for enforcement
- Conducting robust, in-person interactive and educational sessions on inclusion and implicit and unconscious bias, as well as stereotypes and protected characteristics for LVHN’s more than 23,000 colleagues
- Taking appropriate personnel action.
“At LVHN, our ability to serve our entire community comes from the collective strengths of our diverse workforce," the statement said.
"We are committed to ensuring every member of our LVHN community feels safe, supported and valued.”
In the final paragraph of his blog that prompted the changes, Ray said, “Speak up, speak out, say something.”
He concluded by saying “representation matters, it improves outcomes, it saves lives.”
