Kimberly Brister
Vice President, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
WellSpan Health
Brister was promoted to the position of Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer in July 2021. However, she has led WellSpan’s diversity and inclusion efforts since 2019.
She said there’s nothing better than being able to pour out love on an individual, or group of people, who previously felt unseen, unheard and unvalued.
Whether it’s elevating a single, vulnerable voice in a story shared system-wide, filling in an equity gap in a policy or hosting a panel discussion about the lived experiences, joys and traditions of a specific culture— she says it is incredibly rewarding to witness the moment the invisible, is finally visible.
“Honestly the most challenging part of working in the DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) space is the emotional toll that inherently comes with this work. As the world around us faces challenges with racial and social injustice, it can be challenging to practice self-care and show up when you are directly impacted by current events as a person, rather than a DEI practitioner. Therefore giving myself grace is so important,” Brister said.
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This profile is part of CPBJ's Healthcare Power 30 list for 2021. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. See the full list at cpbj.com or in our digital edition. |
