American Association of Healthcare Executives

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Approved by the Board of Governors Dec. 9, 2024.

As the professional membership society for healthcare leaders, the American College of Healthcare Executives encourages diversity within healthcare leadership, and it is committed to the fair and equitable treatment of all people. Diversity, equity and inclusion are ethical and business imperatives that are a core part of ACHE’s values. ACHE believes that diversity in its leaders, members and staff serves as a catalyst for a stronger workforce, improved decision-making and outcomes, and a competitive advantage. In addition, ACHE fosters an inclusive and equitable culture that recognizes and supports the contributions and advancement of all, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. An inclusive and belonging-forward environment can enhance the safety and quality of healthcare, improve relations between healthcare organizations and the community, and positively affect the health status of society. These priorities are reflected in ACHE's strategies, structure and initiatives.

Within ACHE, the organization promotes diversity, equity and inclusion in numerous ways, including:

• Diversity-specific accountability for staff. Diversity-specific behaviors are outlined in the Standards of Excellence for staff and incorporated into performance management tools.
• Inclusive and equitable recruitment and retention practices.
• New employee orientation addressing diversity and inclusion in the workplace, including recognizing and accepting differences as organizational assets.
• Regularly scheduled education for all staff to help further awareness and understanding of the value diversity, equity and inclusion brings to the organization.
• At-large positions on the Council of Regents to support a diverse and inclusive culture.
• Board and nominating committees that emphasize diversity in slating elected leaders and committee appointments.
• Processes that ensure diversity among our voice-of-the-customer ACHE member committees.

Within the healthcare management field, ACHE promotes diversity, equity and inclusion in numerous ways, including:

• The Thomas C. Dolan Diversity in Executive Leadership Program, which offers specialized leadership development to accelerate personal performance and career advancement for the next generation of healthcare leaders and supports diversity in the C-suite.
• The Institute for Diversity and Health Equity, co-founded by ACHE. The Institute advances health equity, diversity and inclusion by supporting hospitals, healthcare organizations, and the patients and communities they serve as a trusted partner by disseminating evidence-informed practices, resources and innovations that lead to sustainable transformation in healthcare.
• Partnerships with national groups committed to diversity in healthcare leadership, such as the American Hospital Association’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity, the National Association of Health Services Executives, the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives and The Equity Collaborative.
• Diversity-focused online communities such as those for LGBTQ+ and Asian healthcare leaders.
• Periodic research studies of healthcare leaders in various race/ethnic groups to compare their career attainments, such as “Race/Ethnic Comparisons of Career Attainments in Healthcare Management.”
• Periodic research studies of the career attainments of men and women healthcare leaders by gender, such as “Comparisons of the Career Attainments of Men and Women Healthcare Executives.”
• The Inclusive Leadership Competencies Assessment Tool, which helps healthcare leaders assess and foster inclusive cultures and lead through a lens of equity.
• Resources such as the Executive Diversity Career Navigator, which was created in collaboration with ACHE’s diverse partner groups as an online portal to information and inspiration for career advancement.
• Supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives by ACHE chapters through appointing Regents-at-Large, regularly convening chapter diversity leaders and providing resources, including relevant chapter education templates.
• A three-month internship intended to attract students from underrepresented backgrounds (racially/ethnically) and/or sexual orientations/identities into the fields of healthcare and professional society management and to further their postgraduate education.
• The Foster G. McGaw and Albert W. Dent graduate student scholarships, which are awarded annually to students in healthcare management graduate programs who need financial assistance.
• Educational programs and publications addressing diversity, equity and inclusion.

Policy created: June 2002
Policy updated: December 2024