Welcome to episode 40 of The HQ Podcast! In this episode, we continue our special series exploring the critical and compelling issues equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in healthcare. Our conversation moves beyond the need for these principles; it focuses on the actionable steps organizations can take to enable genuine culture change. As previous guests of The HQ have pointed out, creating inclusive workspaces is not only a socially just thing to do, it is also good for business. So, how do we transform EDI from being a mere buzzword into a lived experience shared by all? How can organizations not only attract a diverse workforce but also foster an environment where everyone feels they belong? What does it take to get everyone on board? These are important questions because while so many conversations right now are about “recruitment,” belonging is ultimately about retention.

To answer these questions and more, we are joined by two distinguished guests: Beverly Kravitz and Christine Morin. These leaders from the University Integrated Health and Social Services Centre for West-Central Montreal (CIUSSS) share their journey, the challenges they've encountered, and the strategies they've implemented as part of their initiative to foster a work culture centred on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB).

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the firsthand experiences of professionals making substantial contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare.

About Beverly Kravitz

Beverly Kravitz, reporting directly to the CEO, is the Director of Human Resources, Communications, Legal Affairs and Global Security for the University Integrated Health and Social Services Centre for West-Central Montreal (CIUSSS). She has held this position since the 'CIUSSS’ creation in 2015. Our institution is comprised of 9 healthcare institutions and 34 member facilities, among them an internationally renowned acute-care hospital (Jewish General Hospital), frontline clinics, rehabilitation and long-term care sites, as well as university-affiliated research institutions. Our over 13,000 employees provide a seamless continuum of care to the patients, residents and users in their territory, a population of nearly 400,000 in one of Canada’s most diverse catchments.

Ms. Kravitz began her legal career in 1988, after having completed her civil and common law studies at McGill University. She joined the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) Foundation in 2002 after 15 years of legal experience in the private sector. She was Director of Planned Giving, Strategic Planning and General Counsel with the JGH Foundation until 2007, at which time she was appointed as the hospital’s Director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs, a position she held until the creation of the CIUSSS in 2015.

Ms. Kravitz completed the Authentic Leadership Development Program and Leading High Performance Health Care Organizations, two professional development courses with the HarvardBusinessSchool. In 2022, she completed the NIHI McMaster Connected Health and IoT course and is currently completing a course on Solving Business Problems Using People Analytics.

Ms. Kravitz is known for her strong leadership and strategic skills, has an effective management style and a solid approach to conflict resolution, mediation and negotiation. She places great importance on providing a safe, healthy, stimulating and fulfilling work environment that fosters teamwork and mutual support among colleagues. She takes great pride in having led the JGH to be recognized as one of Montreal’s Top Employers every year since 2013.

About Christine Morin

Christine Morin has been trained in Social Work and has taught psychosocial intervention for approximately 18 years in Quebec, where she conducted several institutional projects linked to inclusion of diversity in higher education. In the past 10 years,...