We are committed to increasing and promoting diversity amongst team members while also improving the inclusion and belonging experience for patients and families. We attract more diverse team members through intentional efforts in staff recruitment, education and support.
“At Arkansas Children’s we serve all children and families from across Arkansas and beyond. Our goal is to deliver the best care by reflecting the richness of that diversity in our team members. This means, creating an environment where all team members can feel safe, seen, heard and included in all aspects of what we do. As we work every day to provide better care to the children of Arkansas, we are also working to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for our team members. We know that injustice and inequity stand firmly in the way of unprecedented child health. By creating a more just and equitable environment for our team members, we hope to serve as an example for our communities and our state.”
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is a standing committee of Arkansas Children’s, Inc. (collectively Arkansas Children's) System Operations Council. It was established to support Arkansas Children's in the commitment to build and sustain a diverse and inclusive environment for employees and the patients and families it is privileged to serve.
The Arkansas Children’s, Inc. Diversity and Inclusion Committee focuses on five critical business components:
Our focus on these critical business components helps us ensure we have great inclusion experiences for our diverse population of employees, patients and families. Arkansas Children’s strives to maintain a culture where everyone feels valued and actively participates in achieving the mission of championing children by making them better today and healthier tomorrow.
Tammy Diamond-Wells, RN, MSN, NE-BC
Co-Facilitator/Member
Vice President, Clinical & Diagnostic Services | Arkansas Children's
Nicole Huddleston
Co-Facilitator/Member
Director of Operations | Arkansas Children's Northwest
Colleen Abbott
Member/ERG
Respiratory Therapist | Arkansas Children's Northwest
Cristina Ambriz
Member
Business Operations Manager | Arkansas Children's Northwest
Erin Argo
Member
Content Development and Marketing Director | Arkansas Children's
Tracy Bradley-Simmons
Member
Business Operations Director | Arkansas Children's
Cory Davis
Member
Director of Child Life & Patient Experience | Arkansas Children's
Vanessa Delgadillo, CFRE
Member
Philanthropy Executive Director | Arkansas Children's Auxiliary
Marcy Doderer, FACHE
Member
President and CEO | Arkansas Children's
Chad Dugger, MSN, RN, CPN
Member
Nursing Excellence Director | Arkansas Children's Northwest
Neemah Esmaeilpour, JD
Member
Assistant General Council | Arkansas Children's
Grace Gephardt
Member/ERG
Simulation Center Director | Arkansas Children's
Susan Goolsby
Member/ERG
Clinical Nutrition Assistant Director | Arkansas Children's
Halley Hamon
Member/ERG
Volunteer Engagement Manager | Arkansas Children's
Sarah Harlan
Member/ERG
Community Engagement Coordinator | Arkansas Children's
Lara Otten
Member/ERG
HR Communications Specialist | Arkansas Children's
V.P. Parker
Member
DEI Director| Arkansas Children's
Matt Pinkerton
Member/ERG
System Support Manager | Arkansas Children's Northwest
Donna Rayford-Graves
Member/ERG
Development Officer | Arkansas Children's Foundation
April Shepard
Member/ERG
Manager | Arkansas Children's
Vontifany Smith
Member
Senior Organizational Development Consultant | Arkansas Children's
Carla Sparks
Member
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist | Arkansas Children's
Lauren Widmer
Member/ERG
Registered Dietician | Arkansas Children's Northwest
Donnell Williams
Member-At-Large
Senior Administrative Assistant | Arkansas Children's
Ben Wingfield
Member/ERG
Supply Chain Operations Director | Arkansas Children's
Pele Yu
Member/ERG
Pediatric Section Chief | UAMS
Learn about Employee Resource Groups at Arkansas Children's and how they are impacting patients, employees and the culture of our health system.
Employee Resource Groups (“ERGs”) are voluntary, employee-driven groups at Arkansas Children's organized around a particular shared interest, characteristic or experience. They serve to build an inclusive work environment, increase employee satisfaction and engagement, encourage connection and mentorship among team members and support Arkansas Children's by reinforcing the value of diversity.
Leaders: Romi Wang and Feliciano "Pele" Yu
More Information:
Romi Wang, WangR@archildrens.org
Feliciano "Pele" Yu, Pele.Yu@archildrens.org
The purpose of the Black/African American Employee Resource Group is to create a safe space for Black/African American employees and allies to problem-solve, increase awareness of Black/African American cultural norms and cultivate Black/African American employee engagement. Our goal is to promote education by providing a platform for open conversations about the African American community at Arkansas Children's.
Leaders: Donna Rayford-Graves and April Shepard
More Information:
Donna Rayford-Graves, rayfordgravesd@archildrens.org
April Shepard, shepardAM@archildrens.org
The Caregivers Employee Resource Group at Arkansas Children’s supports team members who are primary caregivers of a loved one. Whether you’re caring for an elderly parent, partner, spouse or child (young or old) with special needs, this group is a hub for information, shared experiences and mutual support. Our goal is to provide a space for learning and connection as we navigate the caregiving journey together.
Leaders: Grace Gephardt and Matt Pinkerton
More Information:
Grace Gephardt, GephardtGA@archildrens.org
Matt Pinkerton, PinkertonMG@archildrens.org
This group promotes diversity and equity for Latino employees, allies and patients and families to experience an inclusive environment. This group focuses on ensuring Spanish-speaking patients and families have ready access to services while also enhancing cultural awareness and celebration about the Latino community at Arkansas Children’s.
Leader: Cristina Ambriz and Elena Glover
More Information:
Cristina Ambriz, AmbrizC@archildrens.org
Elena Glover, RabagoEC@archildrens.org
Our common interest is to promote and enhance Arkansas Children’s culture to be inclusive and respectful to sexual and gender minorities, LGBTQ+ employees, patients, and families. Through the diverse makeup of this employee resource group, we strive to make the Arkansas Children’s system and our community an accepting and affirming space for all to thrive.
Leaders: Colleen Abbott, Halley Hamon, Maggie Taylor and Donnell Williams
More Information:
Collen Abbott, AbbottCS@archildrens.org
Halley Hamon, HamonHG@archildrens.org
Maggie Taylor, HicksMT@archildrens.org
Donnell Williams, WilliamsLD@archildrens.org
The SAFE Employee Resource Group stands for Special Diets, Allergen Free Environment Foods. Our goal is to influence Arkansas Children’s administration decisions that directly impact those with food allergies, food intolerances or Celiac disease so all employees and patients/families can safely eat in the cafe and have safe and similar food options for special occasions. We strive to increase awareness of the struggles faced by those with special dietary needs.
Leaders: Lane Hume and Charli Thomas
More Information:
Lane Hume, HumeLE@archildrens.org
Charli Thomas, LinesCM@archildrens.org
Leaders: Kim Prescott
More Information:
Kim Prescott, PrescottKB@archildrens.org
This group provides mentorship and encouragement to Arkansas Children’s working mothers of young children. There is a shared goal to improve processes that will positively impact employee and patient engagement while ensuring the safety and attention of all of our employees. This group works toward enhancing the employee experience at Arkansas Children’s as one that builds loyalty and trust for all team members.
Leaders: Sarah Harlan, Elizabeth Hayes
More Information:
Sarah Harlan, HarlanSE@archildrens.org
Elizabeth Hayes, HayesER@archildrens.org
Discrimination stands firmly in the way of attaining unprecedented child health in Arkansas. Your support actively creates an anti-discriminatory environment across the entire health system rooted in diversity, health equity and inclusion. Arkansas Children’s is actively working to identify barriers for diverse families, such as non-English speaking patient families, and enact solutions that provide true healthcare equity. Your gift today helps create and deliver an organizational culture where everyone—our patients, families and teams—feels valued and actively participates in Arkansas Children’s, achieving our mission of making kids better today and healthier tomorrow.
Arkansas Children’s was a identified as a Leader and Top Performer in 2022.
Our Promise to Arkansas. Unprecedented Child Health. Defined & Delivered.
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