In order to resolve the significant racial, ethnic, language, and financial inequities that exist in healthcare quality and access, health systems must undertake the development of systematic approaches to advance diversity, inclusion, and health equity. Developed from the data, experience, and research that emerged from ten years of intentional creation of such an approach at Northwell Health, Reigniting the Human Connection: A Pathway to Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity offers readers an adaptable framework on which to build their own response. This carefully constructed framework is centered on a holistic vision of care, one that utilizes approaches that support the emergence of patients as partners in their care in order to meet the demands of twenty-first-century healthcare. "When Amanda Gorman, a twenty-two-year-old poet, shared the words of her poem ‘The Hill We Climb' at the inauguration of President Biden, she spoke that America is a ‘nation that isn't broken but simply unfinished.' This book attempts to tackle one of the major unfinished challenges that America's healthcare system must confront in the years ahead: achieving health equity for all of its citizens. The authors of this book recognize that a foundational element of achieving health equity is to develop and support a culture that embraces humanism in healthcare. They identify a framework on how to think about this challenge and provide a number of concrete steps that leaders and organizations can take that ultimately will move our nation closer to the promise of providing equitable care for all. This is an invaluable resource for all health providers trying to address America's unfinished business." ―Jeffrey Kraut Executive Vice President, Strategy, Northwell Health Chair, NYS Public Health and Health Planning Council "Achieving equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging is key to delivering on our mission, performance outcomes, and commitment to remaining a great place to work … for all. It defines our character and identity as an organization, and in its absence, we cannot truly claim victory in serving our diverse communities and attracting and retaining a diverse and talented workforce." ―Maxine Carrington, JD Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer "The path forward requires our commitment to transforming the conditions of historically marginalized communities; improving the quality of housing and neighborhood environments of these populations; advocating for policies that eliminate inequities in access to economic opportunities, quality education, and healthcare; and enhancing allyship among racial and ethnic groups. Reigniting the Human Connection: A Pathway to Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity represents a tried-and-true framework to help healthcare organizations in putting the patient as partner, where we can move from being a healthcare institution for the sick to one of wellness and prevention." ― David L. Battinelli, MD Executive Vice President and Physician-in-Chief Vice Dean, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell "There's nothing like sitting down with somebody to ask them about themselves and really caring about them. I think when you make that human connection, it's so powerful, whether it's an employee, physician, or patient. With this human connection, we gain a greater understanding of an individual's life journey and how we might be able to assist them in achieving their wishes moving forward. This is the greatest legacy any of us can leave―assisting others in achieving their dreams, aspirations, and wishes in life." ― Maureen T. White, RN, MBA, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN Executive Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive, Margaret Crotty and Rory Riggs Clinical Chair in Nursing "This book deals with essential elements of effective healthcare that must be understood and incorporated into both the strategic and daily efforts of our workforce. We must create a diverse workforce that uses equity and inclusivity as major metrics of success. It must start during the education and training of that workforce. Eradicating health disparities can only happen when caregivers and policymakers understand the impact of the social determinants of health, the need for the workforce to come from all of the groups that are our patients, and that this will only happen by intentional efforts, programs, and metrics that will push us to settle for nothing less than true health equity and inclusion. It starts with educating a diverse workforce and ends with our patients feeling safe, trusted, confident, respected, and cared for equitably and expertly. The role of our school is so much a part of this, beginning with our Pipeline Programs, then our curriculum, our culture, and finally the values we try to instill in all of our graduates. This book tells a story of Northwell Health and its efforts at equity and inclusivity and the home it has made for our school of medicine." ―Lawrence G. Smith,