Cayuga Health names Herb Alexander as Chief Diversity Officer

US-based Cayuga Health System has announced the appointment of Herb Alexander as Chief Diversity Officer.

In this newly created position, Alexander will enhance diversity programmes; and create a more inclusive culture for the health care organisation. Alexander most recently was Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Dean of Students for Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York. He holds a Master of Science in Strategic (Business) Leadership; and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Roberts Wesleyan College. He started the new role this week on 2 August.

“We believe Herb Alexander is the perfect person to help lead Cayuga Health’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives forward. He is highly qualified and eager to dive right in to lead this critical strategic initiative,” stated Dr Martin Stallone, President & CEO of Cayuga Health System. “He will report directly to me; and I look forward to working with him closely to ensure that Cayuga Health becomes a leader in supporting diversity; a great benefit to our organisation, our patients and the community. His work will touch every part of our organisation from hiring to community outreach. During his tenure at Roberts Wesleyan College, Mr Alexander launched a successful diversity programme that promoted diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the college that focused on students, faculty, staff and community outreach.”

PROMOTING EQUITY & INCLUSION

In 2020 Cayuga Health formed a system-wide Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee consisting of employees, across the organisation and members of their regional community. It has been focusing on human capital diversity metrics, workforce practices, leadership accountability, talent programmes, supplier diversity and philanthropy; and already held focus groups in the community.

Commenting on the new role Alexander said: “I am thrilled to join the Cayuga Medical Center/Cayuga Health team and work with an organisation embracing the valuable work of diversity, equity and inclusion. It is an honour to serve as a voice for access in this influential organisation and industry. As we take this journey, I am committed to approaching diversity, not as an issue needing to be solved, but as a way of life that allows us all to thrive. We each have the responsibility to promote equity and inclusion; and I look forward to collaborating with our community as we strive to embody this change together.”