Methodology

For the list, Modern Healthcare accepted nominations between April 1 and June 10. The editors of Modern Healthcare then selected the list of Diversity Leaders and its Rising Stars list based on eligibility and their accomplishments.

Nominees for the list must:

• Self-identify as a person of color, including being Black/African American, Indigenous, Asian, Latino/Latina/Latinx, Pacific Islander, multiracial, and/or self-identify as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, or other underrepresented sexual orientation or gender identity).
• Work in healthcare, including at hospitals, health systems, providers, insurers, associations, government agencies, investment firms, vendors, supplier organizations, and patients' rights groups.
• Manage a team or otherwise have a leadership role.
• Have made a measurable impact at their company and/or in the healthcare industry in the past 12 months.

Nominees for the Rising Stars list must meet all the same requirements; however, they must also have held their current role for no longer than three years.

Any nominees for the organizational award are asked the following questions:

• What percentage of the organization's C-suite is made up of women? How has the percentage changed over the past year?
• What percentage of the organization's C-suite is made up of people of color? How has the percentage changed over the past year?
• What percentage of the organization's board is made up of women? How has the percentage changed over the past year?
•  What percentage of the organization's board is made up of people of color? How has the percentage changed over the past year?
• Describe specific initiatives the organization has put in place to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within its leadership ranks and workforce. Provide measurable results over the past year.
• Describe specific initiatives the organization has put in place to address diversity, equity and inclusion as a part of its strategic plan or mission. Provide measurable results over the past year.

The 2024 Diversity Leaders

The individuals on Modern Healthcare's 2024 Diversity Leaders list are:

• Helen Adeosun, CEO and founder of CareAcademy
• Vishal Agrawal, chief strategy and corporate development officer at Humana
• Melynda Barnes, CMO at Ro
• Cindy Blanco Ochoa, co-founder and CEO at MiSalud Health*
• Sherrie Bragg, assistant VP of ambulatory clinical care and quality at AtlantiCare*
• Medell Briggs-Malonson, chief of health equity, diversity and inclusion at UCLA Health
•  John Carpten, chief scientific officer at City of Hope
• Morgan Cheatham, VP at Bessemer Venture Partners
• Denice Cora-Bramble, chief diversity officer at Children's National Hospital
• Celina Cunanan, chief diversity, equity, and belonging officer at University Hospitals
•  Shaleta Dunn Vick, VP, ESG Impact Spend at Vizient*
• Abigail Epane-Osuala, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer and HR strategic initiatives at GE HealthCare
• Kofi Essel, food as medicine director at Elevance Health*
• Anika Gardenhire, chief digital and information officer at Ardent Health
• Deborah Grimes, SVP and chief diversity officer at Ochsner Health
• Vedner Guerrier, EVP and chief transformation officer at Memorial Healthcare System*
• Tyonne Hinson, SVP and chief diversity, health equity and inclusion officer at Baystate Health*
• Pahoua Yang Hoffman, SVP, government and community relations at HealthPartners
• Daniel Joiner, VP and chief diversity and community impact officer at UnityPoint Health
• Anjali Jones, system director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at CommonSpirit Health*
• Lisa Kelly-Croswell, SVP and chief human resources officer at Boston Medical Center Health System
• Leong Koh, president and CEO at Northwest Permanente
• Kendall LeBray, director, quality improvement and health equity at Health Care Service Corp.
• Shu Li, co-president and COO at Rendr
• Juan Fernando Lopera, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Beth Israel Lahey Health
• Brandi Newman, SVP, community and social impact, at Advocate Health
• Yemi Okupe, CFO at Hims & Hers
• Brian Patel, SVP of medical affairs and CMO at Sturdy Health
• Lisa Prasad, VP and CIO at Henry Ford Health
• John Rich, Harrison I. Steans director at Rush BMO Institute for Health Equity
• Deneen Richmond, chief quality, equity and population officer at Luminis Health
• Kris Sanders, SVP of northern market growth and development at Children's Health Plano*
• Praveen Thadani, president and CEO at Priority Health
• James Wong, chief product officer at Carrot Fertility*
• Julia Zhou, chief information technology officer at Cinqcare*

*indicates an individual is also included on the Rising Stars list

The organizations on Modern Healthcare's 2024 Diversity Leaders list are:

• AdventHealth (Altamonte Springs, FL)
• CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (Baltimore, MD)
• Loma Linda University Health (San Bernadino, CA)
• SCAN Group (Long Beach, CA)
• Sinai Chicago (Chicago, IL)
• SSM Health (St. Louis, MO)
• Texas Oncology (Dallas, TX)
• Virtua Health (Marlton, NJ)

(Modern Healthcare, 8/12; Modern Healthcare 2024 Diversity Leaders individuals list, 8/12; Modern Healthcare 2024 Diversity Leaders organizations list, 8/12; Modern Healthcare 2024 Diversity Leaders nominee eligibility requirements, accessed 8/13)

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