Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Lifespan and its partner hospitals are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers who do not discriminate against job applicants, employees, patients or visitors on any level. Lifespan prides itself in its ability to diversify and create an environment of inclusion by respecting and valuing the differences in race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, genetic information, age, religion, national origin and veteran or disability status of all people.
Chief diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer, Christin Zollicoffer, leads Lifespan’s strategy for developing as a diverse, inclusive and culturally responsive health care system, and is responsible for ensuring that DEI considerations are incorporated into decision-making processes with the goal of fair and equitable treatment for all.

Human Rights Campaign Foundation Top Performer
For the second time, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation recognized Lifespan’s four hospitals with Top Performer status on the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), a national benchmark of hospitals’ policies and practices related to equitable and inclusive treatment of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees.
"Diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color." - Maya Angelou
Our hospitals, Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children's Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Bradley Hospital, Newport Hospital, as well as Gateway Healthcare, recruit, hire, train and promote the diversity of viewpoint, experience, talents and ideas of its employees. We strive to create and maintain a supportive environment where all employees are able to realize their full career potential. Our diverse clientele and associates allow Lifespan to have a competitive advantage in giving patients the quality care they deserve.
Diversity at Lifespan includes a senior executive level Diversity Leadership Council, cultural competency training and education, employee resource groups, community partnerships, community relations, best practice Affirmative Action plans and many other best practices in diversity and inclusion.
As Rhode Island's largest health system and private employer, our employees represent a broad spectrum of experience, occupations and cultural backgrounds. With our commitment to diversity and inclusion, Lifespan is better able to be the employer and provider of choice in the communities we serve.
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