The Power of Identity.
Driving Principles
In FY25, CHA’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion efforts were marked by program expansion, increased opportunities, and strategic differentiation for the organization.
This report aims to showcase how CHA is meeting its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals and achieving strategic outcomes. It also details the key operational drivers that ensure sustained benefit for our patients, communities, and employees.
Gains in Inclusivity & Belonging
The 2025 Staff and Provider Engagement Survey marks a period of measurable cultural transformation at CHA, characterized by a universal rise in scores on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion questions and an improvement in employees' sense of belonging.
The 2.7% increase in the "Inclusive Culture" score for staff and 2.9% jump for providers places CHA in the 67th percentile nationally for inclusion. The 2.7% improvement in authenticity among providers reflects an environment where employees feel significantly more comfortable being their true selves at work.
The overall Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion composite score climbed by 1.2% for staff and 1.7% for providers since 2023. Four out of six measures improved by 0.04 or more qualifying them as statistically significant.
Gains in Inclusivity & Belonging
These results demonstrate that CHA is effectively outpacing both its historical performance and national healthcare averages to foster a more equitable and inclusive workplace.
Data-Driven Approach
From FY24 to FY25, CHA’s workforce grew by 6%. With our commitment to equity, we intentionally focused on identifying and removing barriers to entry and ensuring a fair, open and impartial process for applicants from all backgrounds, and our workforce is now slightly more diverse than the communities we serve.
Research from the NIH and AMA shows that patients often feel more secure and understood when their healthcare providers share similar backgrounds and life experiences, leading to better health outcomes. By ensuring our hiring practices are rooted in equity, we are better equipped to build a team that understands the unique needs of our patients and improves the overall health of our community.
Training for All
In FY25, CHA’s commitment to training was evident in the breadth and depth of trainings offered to the full staff as well as specialized trainings for more specific groups.
In FY26, CHA will continue to offer innovative, informative, and supportive trainings.
Disrupting Bias
July 2024-July 2025
Assigned to 5,600 employees
87% completion rate for all employees
96% completion rate for leaders
Psychological Safety: Building a
Culture of Inclusion and Innovation
July 2024-July 2025
Assigned to 5,615 employees
89% completion rate
attended Collecting RELD and SOGI
Demographics
July 2024-July 2025
Assigned to 587 employees
91% completion rate
Introduction to Disabilities and
Disability-Competent Care
July 2024-July 2025
Assigned to 3,464 employees
83% Completion Rate
Disability Etiquette
Taught by Work Without Limits
101 employees completed
Well received by participants
Health Equity Integration and Access
In FY25, CHA rolled out the Portuguese language version of MyChart, reaching over 45,000 patients.
Laid the groundwork for the launch of ERGs in FY26 to foster belonging and inclusion
Partnered with the Institute for Community Health to conduct LGBTQ+ focus groups, providing qualitative data on the needs of LGBTQ+ patients, and helped set goals for FY26
CHA’s 10-Point Health Equity Plan helps coordinate equity work across CHA and the communities served. It is built on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s definition of health equity: Everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
Expanded services in speech & language pathology for gender diverse patients
The workforce efforts aim to diversify our workforce, support employees from diverse backgrounds, and build workforce capacity in cultural proficiency and humility.
Engaging Diverse Suppliers
By expanding our sourcing strategies to include a broader landscape of potential vendors and enabling certified diverse suppliers to have an equal opportunity to compete for new business, CHA bolsters the organization’s positive impact on the community. In FY25, CHA had 272 vendors identifying as members of diverse populations chosen through truly open and competitive procurement and merit-based selection processes.
FY25 saw increased spends with diverse suppliers in the following areas, among others:
Information Technology
Ophthalmology
Catering
Implants
Endoscopy
Environmental Services & Waste Services
Wound Care
Photography & Video
The Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council held an event entitled, “How To Do Business with Cambridge Health Alliance” last February, where over 80 attendees learned more about how to work with CHA.
Recruitment, Career Development, & Benefits
In FY25, CHA worked to enhance recruitment, career development, and benefits packages. This is in an effort to not only increase our competitiveness in the marketplace, but also to ensure that we are continually growing, recognizing and supporting our unique, diverse workforce. In FY26, additional supports for older workers and those living with disabilities will be addressed.
CHA conducts regular pay equity analyses to identify and address gender and racial pay gaps.
A LGBTQ+ Benefits Guide was created, helping LGBTQ+ employees navigate CHA’s inclusive health plans and other benefits-related resources.
CHA conducts regular pay equity analyses to identify and address gender and racial pay gaps. Adoption Support was added to the Family Formation Benefits in Progeny to support the number of ways families can come to be.
CHA partnered with Jewish Vocational Services, who brought a cohort of employees to CHA, leading to multiple job offers in areas of need.
CHA worked to better understand the diversity of our staff by conducting periodic Self-ID Campaigns and enhancing personal profiles in our HR database with the expansion of the dimensions of identity available.
DEI Council Activities
In FY25, the combined number of DEI Council and Community Events increased 21% from 28 to 34, more deeply engaging our workforce, aligning with our health equity initiatives, and expanding CHA’s impact in the community.
The Council engaged in 55 activities that improved our inclusivity by increasing programming celebrating previously unrecognized cultures and observances.
The Council supported 11 Community Events, with the goal of expanding CHA’s reach in our communities.
1+ million people attended
1,250 employees participated in Council-sponsored activities in FY25
DEI Across the Organization
In FY25, The Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion witnessed an organization ready and willing to innovate, plan, and implement initiatives across many different departments, moving toward an integrated approach that positively affects patients, employees, and the community.
CHA launched both an internal Google site and an external web page focused on Advancing Equity at CHA. These websites aim to communicate not only the multitude of initiatives undertaken every day, but to also outline the greater strategy and goals behind the work.
The Tufts University Family Medicine Residency provides a robust equity curriculum inclusive of LGBTQ+ topics. In addition, CHA applied grant funds to train 12 Primary Care providers in 40+ hours of gender-affirming care.
The Anti-Racism Mind Body Practice held 14 sessions from January until June.
The Immigration & Newcomer Forum was launched, involving 157 employees.
Multicultural Affairs & Patient Services offered beginning Spanish & Portuguese to help staff increase their language competency, enhancing patient care.
Twenty four Grand Rounds were on topics related to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. Topic areas included: health equity, LGBTQ+ health, race, disability, and immigration.
Awards and Recognition
In FY25, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) was honored to join the first wave of organizations nationwide to earn The Joint Commission’s new Excellent Health Outcomes for All (EHOA) certification. On April 12, 2025, we achieved this advanced, voluntary distinction with zero findings. This health care equity certification provides a rigorous, data-driven framework that supports our ongoing commitment to standardizing care and eliminating disparities for every patient group
CHA received national recognition from the Lown Institute and was named one of the top ten hospitals in the nation for Health Equity, for programs and actions that give everyone the opportunity to live a healthy life. CHA was also the number one hospital in Massachusetts (with an A grade) for Community Benefit, which looks at spending on charity care and community investments.
Goals for FY26
Strategic Goal Impact
Stand up at least one Employee Resource Group
Continue Psychological Safety training & launch online Psychological Safety toolkit
Connect employees with similar identities to each other and within the organization
Create DEI Dashboard that connects with CHA’s strategic priorities
Expand multicultural workforce development programs
Help employees increase their feelings of safety at work
Drive accountability and impact for all programs/intiatives
Develop viable career pathways for all employees