The American Heart Association hosted the first annual Health Equity in the Workforce Leadership Summit, bringing together representatives from various local businesses. The summit aimed to facilitate the sharing of information among different companies and help leaders gain a better understanding of the diverse needs of their employees.
Tiffany Gholston, board chair of the American Heart Association of the Triangle, highlighted that many employers have good intentions but may not know where to start in addressing health equity in the workplace. She emphasized that healthcare should not be approached with a one-size-fits-all mentality, especially considering that employees spend a significant amount of time at work.
The summit had notable companies such as Deloitte, IBM, Lenovo, and Advanced Auto Parts represented by their executives. Faculty members from Duke University and North Carolina State University were also present to discuss the challenges faced by recent graduates entering the local workforce.
Gholston expressed her hope that the summit would serve as a platform for ongoing communication and action, ensuring that employees have access to the appropriate resources they need. She underscored the significance of addressing issues like mental health in the workplace, especially in light of the challenges brought on by the pandemic in 2020. As part of its focus on this area since 2021,