Houston Business Journal names 2023 Diversity in Business Awards honorees
Healthcare Gulf Coast Division and HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast have been named as 2023 HBJ Outstanding Diverse Organizations.
Houston, Texas — HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division and HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast are proud to announce they have both been named a 2023 Houston Business Journal (HBJ) Outstanding Diverse Organization. Through their Diversity in Business Awards, HBJ honors organizations and individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to promoting practices that advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace, as well as business leadership.
“Over the last five years, HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division has continually expanded our focus on diversity, equity and inclusion through a comprehensive approach,” said Troy Villarreal, president of HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division. “Our goals include advancing health equity and access to services for all patients, providing an inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive and promoting the inclusion of diverse business within our supplier base. We are committed to ensuring all board of trustees reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Through these goals and actions, we are consistently working to build healthier communities through strategic partnerships and environmental stewardship.”
HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division incrementally launched eight colleague networks since 2019, including Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, LGBTQ+, Mental Health and Wellness, Veterans, Women’s and Young Professionals. The COVID-19 global pandemic amplified the need for mental health and wellness services, and as a result, the Mental Health and Wellness colleague network became the fastest-growing network since it was initiated in May 2021. Colleague network engagement is at an all-time high, increasing 47 percent in 2022.
“I’m extremely proud of our colleagues and leadership team for earning this award,” said Yasmene McDaniel, CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast. McDaniel is the first African-American CEO at HCA Houston Healthcare and currently serves as the executive sponsor for the Women’s Colleague Network at HCA Gulf Coast Division and is a member of the Veterans and Black Colleague Networks. “Not only do we create a supportive environment for our colleagues, but we also extend it to the community. For example, our colleagues participate in local career fairs, we offer job-shadowing opportunities to students interested in healthcare careers and partner with Prairie View A&M University, a Houston-based historically black college/university (HBCU) to create a pipeline for nurses to enter and succeed within our organization,” added McDaniel.
HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division hosted conscious inclusion training for 169 senior leaders and has since incorporated it into new leader training for all director and executive-level positions. The division has also collaborated with underserved communities of color for mentoring programs, sponsored the Center for Houston’s Future Healthcare Report and invested over $10 million dollars in minority and women-owned businesses, in addition to several other initiatives.