CommonSpirit Health partners to increase diversity

A partnership between Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, a historically Black college and university in Los Angeles, should increase the diversity of the nursing workforce, according to Kathy Sanford, DBA, RN, CommonSpirit’s executive vice president and chief nursing officer. Sanford, an AONL member, said that CommonSpirit plans to help the university grow its nursing enrollment by adding faculty and offering clinical sites to students. CommonSpirit nurses who come from underrepresented backgrounds in nursing and university faculty will discuss nursing careers with students from diverse backgrounds at junior high and high schools. CommonSpirit also will offer tutoring in science and math and establish mentorship programs to help ensure high school students understand the prerequisite coursework needed for a nursing career. (Health Leaders Media article, 6/27/22)