The basis of medical science is to see and diagnose illnesses, indiscriminate of whatever forms they may present. But what makes clinicians and medical providers special is an ingrained love of humanity that gives them the capacity to truly care for all people whose lives are directly or indirectly affected by illness.
SSM Health represents the very best of what it means to be a clinician and a good citizen. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is not just a business imperative; it’s a reflection of God’s universal compassion for all of mankind. Every day in our practices, we see the benefits of diversity and inclusion as we work together, unified by a Mission statement that was crafted by all the members of our Healing ministry: Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.
At SSM Health, our work together is ensuring that the delivery of quality care is equitable and accessible for all the populations we serve, especially our most vulnerable.
Alexander Garza, MD, MPH
Chief Community Health Officer, SSM Health
- A World of Difference® Institute
- Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
- Guardian Angel Settlement Association
- INROADS
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
- National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
- National Black MBA Association®
- National Conference for Community and Justice
- St. Louis Diversity Initiative
- St. Louis Internship Program
- St. Louis Minority Business Council
- The St. Louis American
- United Way
History of Diversity
SSM Health’s history and our values are born out of a Mission that promotes diversity and inclusion. In 1872, our founding sisters immigrated from Germany in search of religious freedom with a Mission to do God’s healing work. They arrived in St. Louis with $5 among them, but they were committed to providing care for anyone who needed it, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, or social stature.
Their spirit and dedication to care for all, in God’s name, have carried us through more than a century of healing. During times of segregation, SSM Health opened the first Catholic hospital for African Americans in the nation. This hospital later became one of the first hospitals to give privileges to African American physicians and to provide opportunities for African American nurses to practice their profession. We have been on the forefront of advancing diversity in our workforce ever since.
Today, SSM Health’s system-wide diversity initiatives strengthen our commitment to fair hiring practices and ensure equal opportunities for career advancement through training and education programs that allow all our employees and staff to pursue their professional growth and career fulfillment.
At SSM Health, we celebrate diversity not only in hiring and developing employees and managers, but also in the way we work and collaborate with one another to provide exceptional care for our many patients. For SSM Health, diversity is both a moral and business imperative. If we serve diverse communities — and we do — then we must reflect that diversity. Our hospitals and patients are better off for having people of various races, ethnicities, and experiences brought together to deliver exceptional health care day in and day out.
