Racial and Ethnic Disparities: Why Diversity Leadership Matters (Diversity‪)‬

In an article in the summer issue of Bridges, a newsletter published by the Institute for Diversity in Health Management, the essential linkages and critical differences between diversity and disparities were discussed. The article concluded: In this installment, the last of this column, we explore this conclusion. We contend that minimizing racial and ethnic disparities requires not only culturally competent clinicians but also leaders who create an organizational context in which cultural competence is enabled, cultivated, and reinforced. In short, healthcare organizations in the United States need leaders who excel in the context of diversity. Without effective diversity leadership, even the most culturally competent clinicians will not be able to perform to their full potential.