Diversity

• Fostering culturally competent care: The Pennsylvania Action Coalition’s NDC partnered with Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions to present the second Pennsylvania Healthcare Mosaic conference. The 2018 conference focused on themes of health equity, cultural competence and cultural humility. Several presentations and panels explored the complex relationships between inclusion, discrimination, social determinants of health and health outcomes through both research and practical delivering perspectives
• Identify and support diversity mentorship programs: The NDC collaborates with nursing schools, professional organizations, and health systems to foster diversity and promote inclusion in the nursing pipeline. In 2018, the Pennsylvania Action Coalition supported seven organizations with grants to build a workforce inclusive of individuals underrepresented in the nursing field. Through the support and implementation of workforce development and mentorship initiatives, the NDC strives to develop a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

• NDC Membership: The NDC welcomes the expertise and engagement of anyone in Pennsylvania committed to promoting a diverse and culturally competent workforce. Members of the NDC represent diverse backgrounds throughout Pennsylvania from a variety of health and healthcare settings. The NDC members meet every other month via conference call for one hour to share progress on their action plans.
• Gracious Space: The NDC meetings and events embrace the philosophy of Gracious Space to respect and honor diversity and facilitate discussion. Gracious Space is a spirit and setting where we invite the stranger and embrace learning in public. To invite the stranger is defined as being open to diverse perspectives in order to gain clarity. To embrace learning in public is defined as truly listening to new thoughts or conflicting ideas, with openness to changing our minds.

Pennsylvania’s Healthcare Mosaic Conference is a biennial conference that gathers health and social service providers to share ideas surrounding diversity and open dialogue about health disparities. 

Pennsylvania's Healthcare Mosaic: Achieving Excellence in Care for All (2018). Conference objectives listed below:

• Describe equity, inclusion, and cultural competency as key to mitigating health disparities and improving health outcomes
• Discuss the concepts of racism and discrimination and how they impact population health
• Summarize the current state of the science on social determinants of health as opportunities for shaping policy and improving health outcomes
• Outline strategies to advance diversity and inclusivity initiatives within academic, practices, and research settings 

Click here to watch a video of the keynote speaker, Deputy Surgeon General, Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, PhD, RN, FAAN speak at the 2018 Healthcare Mosaic

Click here to view the Healthcare Mosaic 2018 conference program 

Pennsylvania's Healthcare Mosaic: Building a Culture of Health Equity (2016). Conference objectives listed below: 

• Discuss the concept of health equity and its relationship to health disparities 
• Explain the relevance of cultural competence to the delivery of health care to vulnerable populations in the state of Pennsylvania 
• Apply evidence based culturally competent strategies within one's health care practice
• Disseminate the tools to incorporate evidence based culturally competent strategies in one's practice setting 

Click here to view the Healthcare Mosaic 2016 conference program

As part of the #nursesofPA campaign, the Pennsylvania Action Coalition created 21 short videos featuring nurses from across the state of Pennsylvania. These videos capture the diverse experiences of nurses from all different backgrounds, scopes of practice, geographic locations, ages, and levels of expertise. Nurses share their unique narratives and explore their journeys, challenges, and successes in nursing. Click here to access these videos.