Health Equity, Community by Community with Andres Gonzales

On The Edge Of Equity

We explore how Andres Gonzales, vice president of community engagement and chief diversity officer at Froedtert Health, is making a lasting impact on the health care system through his passion for creating equity. He discusses his journey from Puerto Rico to Cleveland and how he has used his lived experiences to form initiatives that empower all communities.

Gonzalez also shares about how Froedtert's transformation into an anti-racist health care system is being driven by conversations with community members and stakeholders.

Don’t miss this engaging episode that reminds us that we all play a part in equity and engagement.

Episode Highlights

11:56 - If you look at historically how things have transpired in the U.S., at the core of all these issues, or the ills … is really systemic racism and discrimination. And we know that health care is not exempt. We're not obviously immune to that. And so for us, it was about acknowledging that individually, organizationally, but then admitting that openly to our community. And that vulnerability became extremely important.

15:36 - One of the things that we heard loud and clear right away from the community was, "You guys cannot be the ones kind of leading the way. It would be great if you can actually empower us, give us some speaking points, and allow some of our trusted members of the community to be the ones that are carrying that message, because they obviously have earned that right."

21:46 - I think that that's what fills me every morning, that I know that we can actually effect change, and even if it's in one life that we touch and we can make a difference, that's a win for us. That's actually someone who we impacted positively.

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Guest Bio:

Andres Gonzalez, vice president of community engagement and chief diversity officer for Froedtert Health, is responsible for overseeing the integration of diversity initiatives throughout the organization, including expanding workforce diversity and strengthening community relationships.

Prior to joining Froedtert Health, Gonzalez was chief diversity and inclusion officer at Baystate Health System, an integrated health care delivery system in Springfield, Mass. He also spent five years at Cleveland Clinic as director of diversity, community outreach and supplier diversity. In both positions, Gonzalez created and championed programs and processes to foster and sustain cultural competence.

Gonzalez has a Master’s Degree in Education and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, both from Cleveland State University. He completed Cornell University’s industrial and labor relations-diversity executive program in 2014 and is a credentialed Cornell certified diversity professional/advanced practitioner. He also has served as a diversity consultant for a number of national companies and organizations.