June 29, 2023
Our response to Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action
Kaiser Permanente addresses the Supreme Court decision on affirmative action in higher education and reaffirms our commitment to equity.
Since our founding, Kaiser Permanente has been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. As the nation’s largest integrated health care organization serving diverse communities, we understand firsthand how race discrimination in this country creates health disparities, chronic illnesses, and shorter lifespans for many Americans. As a multiracial and multicultural health care organization, we reaffirm our commitment to equity for all.
We are disappointed by the Supreme Court’s June 29 decision to end affirmative action in higher education. The decision fails to acknowledge the role diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in both health care and education play in achieving healthy communities. It will continue inequities by making it more difficult to develop a health care workforce that meets the needs of diverse communities.
Kaiser Permanente's mission is to improve individual and community health. An integral part of delivering on this mission is addressing health care disparities and ensuring underrepresented communities see themselves reflected in our diverse care teams, physicians, and leadership and receive culturally appropriate and responsive care. The Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine was founded with a vision to address systemic barriers that have contributed to health care and educational disparities in the U.S. Equity, inclusion, and diversity are core principles embedded at the school.
The Supreme Court’s decision only further motivates us to address the stark underrepresentation that persists today in our American health care system. We will remain on our path to eliminate inequities and continue to champion diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in both health care and education, believing firmly that such measures are key to achieving health for all.
