About Cincinnati Children's
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We believe we are “Better Together”

Championing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and living it out every day is fundamental to who we are at Cincinnati Children’s. More importantly, it’s who we aspire to be—a place where everyone feels welcome, safe, valued and respected.

Achieving that goal is a personal and institutional journey that takes time and consistent attention. We’re confident we’re making measurable, sustainable and truly human progress to become that place of safety and respect.

A unified, unwavering focus on DEI will strengthen our care, research and educational mission and will enhance our culture to make it a better workplace for all. This focus on DEI will inspire us to listen, learn and understand each other. It will make us better together.

“I’m at Cincinnati Children’s because I want to change the world of healthcare—for children in Cincinnati and beyond. I envision a world where all children can reach their full potential, and racial and economic disparities have been eliminated. The ZIP code you were born in should never shorten your life expectancy or quality of life.”

—Steve Davis, MD, MMM, President and Chief Executive Officer

“Building and elevating a vibrant, culturally sensitive and inclusive environment for employees, patients and families must be intentional, and requires unwavering commitment at all levels. Just as excellence in care, education, and research is central to our vision and mission, being a welcoming and safe place for all is essential to our success and impact.”

—Nerissa Morris, MBA, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Diversity Officer

Our First DEI Annual Report

The front cover of Cincinnati Children's first DEI annual report.

At Cincinnati Children's, we've been working hard toward making our organization a more diverse and inclusive place. That work is reflected in our first ever Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Annual Report.

Titled Our Journey in Action, it highlights the positive impact that our DEI efforts have had on our organization as well as the community, and where we are headed next.

Achieving our DEI goals is key to helping us achieve our broader goals--improving child health, eliminating health care inequities, and creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for our employees.

Download the Report (PDF)

The CEO Personal Commitment

Our CEO, Steve Davis, MD, MMM, joined leaders of the world’s leading organizations to sign the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge. He also stated his personal commitment to DEI. He and the executive leaders work to uphold and expand this commitment at Cincinnati Children’s.

Read the CEO Personal Commitment

DEI Five-year Strategic Plan

Our five-year strategic plan embeds DEI in every part of our work and is based on research, leadership involvement and best practices. The plan is designed to elevate our responsibilities, combine our efforts and embed diversity, equity and inclusion in every aspect of our work.

By integrating the DEI programs with the hospital’s vision, mission, operations and strategies, we can provide positive employee experiences. Even more vital, together as one Cincinnati Children’s we can provide exceptional patient care that improves the health of children from our local and global communities.

See the Plan

Recognized as a Best Employer

We firmly believe honors come from the efforts and sense of mission every person brings to their work at Cincinnati Children’s. Recognition happens when employees can fulfill their potential.

Check out DEI Awards and Recognition

Everyone Deserves Respect. That’s Cincinnati Children’s Commitment.

We’re dedicated to making sure all employees, patients, families and visitors feel welcome and safe.

Together, we commit to:

Ending child health disparities
Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion
Standing against racism
Creating an environment free of discrimination
Taking personal and institutional responsibility

Learn More About our Commitment

DEI Progress by the Numbers

The DEI team and other stakeholders at Cincinnati Children’s use clear, robust measures to effectively track diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and outcomes. These metrics help prioritize initiatives, set goals, recognize risk areas and assign accountability.

We apply over 90 different metrics to the entire organization. It’s how we make ourselves accountable. It’s how we manage bias blind spots and mindsets. And it’s vital data that helps empower meaningful initiatives.

Here are some of our top metrics as of June 30, 2022.

Overall Diversity

Male

Female

21%

79%

PoC

White

23%

77%

Executive and Sr. Leaders

Male

Female

55%

45%

PoC

White

19%

81%

Middle Management

Male

Female

26%

74%

PoC

White

13%

87%

Supplier Diversity

$76.0M

Diverse Spend in FY2022

Community Engagement

21,000+

Children and Families Reached Through Community Outreach

"Better Together" Training

Illustration of a laptop screen with a check mark on it.

100%

16,000+ Employees Participated and Completed the Training

Cincinnati Children's employees reviewing papers together.

Careers at Cincinnati Children’s: Where You Can Be Your Amazing Self

Any success we achieve as an organization begins with our people. We’re focused on cultivating, retaining and bringing in diverse talent, while continuing to foster a welcoming environment where our existing employees and leaders can reach their full potential.

Three multi-ethnic workers wearing hardhats and safety vests.

We Make It Our Business to Support Supplier Diversity

Partnering with and investing in a diverse supplier base helps us meet our mission to provide world-class healthcare to every child who needs it and enables us to build a vital economy throughout the many communities we serve.

An image of Employee Resource Group members talking outside.

Building a Diverse and Inclusive Culture for Faculty

We are committed to increasing representation and advancing the careers of faculty who are historically underrepresented or marginalized in medicine and biomedical research.

Building Strong Community Relationships

2021 Red Community Makeover event. From partnership investments with other nonprofits to employee volunteer efforts, we’re deeply committed to collaborating, leading and advocating to improve the health of local children and reduce disparities in targeted populations. We’re committed to addressing significant health needs beyond our walls and achieving healthcare outcomes for all children in the region.

Our total community benefit exceeded $400 million in fiscal year 2021 and supported charitable patient care, subsidized health services, health professional education, research and community relations.

Connect to Community Relations

Compassionate Care and Resources For All Patients and Families

Nurse Benjamin Miller holds child at Cincinnati Children's.

There’s a reason that patients from all 50 states and 90 countries come to us for care. Ranked among the top five in the nation on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Children’s Hospitals, when you come to us for care, you’re getting some of best care in the world – right here in Cincinnati.

If you are a patient or a family member, we want to make your visit as easy and meaningful as possible. Check out our Patient & Family Journey support page for links to help you manage your visit and connect you with our hospital resources.

Get Support for the Journey

Meet the DEI Team

Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations Visael “Bobby” Rodriguez believes in listening and celebrating each other’s differences and similarities to create a stronger organization. His team’s goal is to “ensure an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees, patients and communities.”

Visael “Bobby” Rodriguez

Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations

Charla Weiss

Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Dhruv Patel

Consultant

Rosalyn Robinson

Consultant

Maliaka English

Consultant

James Hudgens

Senior Specialist

About Cincinnati Children's
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We believe we are “Better Together”

Our First DEI Annual Report

The CEO Personal Commitment

DEI Five-year Strategic Plan

Recognized as a Best Employer

Everyone Deserves Respect. That’s Cincinnati Children’s Commitment.