Anti-Racism Oversight Committee/Michigan Medicine leadership statement: Speaking up for safety

The following Michigan Medicine leadership statement, as well as the ongoing work of the Michigan Medicine Anti-Racism Oversight Committee (AROC), can be found HERE (Michigan Medicine level-2 log-in required):

“Leaders at Michigan Medicine support the institutional po​sition​ that we unequivocally recognize racism as a public health crisis, and that we stand together against bias and inequali​​ty. We encourage everyone in the Michigan Medicine community to join us in condemning harassment, inequities and social injustice.

“It is our collective responsibility as an organization to improve our climate as long as inequities exist. A key behavior to improving our climate is ensuring all of our work force, learners and volunteers have the skills, confidence and support to speak up when they witness or experience bias, discrimination or harassment. We acknowledge that our work force has expressed fear of speaking up. We must create a climate where everyone believes and trusts that their actions will not result in retaliation of any kind, from anyone. Michigan Medicine will not tolerate retribution or punishment as a result of “seeing something and saying something,” and as leaders, we will hold our teams accountable to this.

“To raise our competency in this arena, we are now offering a resource called Stepping-In For Respect. This program provides bystander intervention training intended to cultivate respect and inclusion among colleagues, peers and leaders, and create a positive impact on the workplace environment and ultimately, scientific discovery, health care delivery and advancement.

“The Michigan Medicine leadership team has committed to adopting the principles of the Stepping-In For Respect training, and encourages all team members to also become educated on how they can do their part in improving our climate.”