MassBio represents the premier hub and convener for over 1,700 life sciences and healthcare members and we have proudly developed multiple thematic roundtables as a vehicle for employees at these member companies to learn, connect and collaborate with each other on the critical issues and professional functions that are involved in our industry. Established in June 2024, MassBio’s DEI & Health Equity roundtable is the newest of these intimate convenings where our members involved in functions from internal people operations to external affairs and community engagement have now been provided with a safe space to discuss the challenges and opportunities in DEI and health equity at a time when progress in equity and inclusion is under threat.
Beginning in 2023, an increasing number of members have been asking me for support in figuring out how to create health equity plans that complement their corporate DEI investments. How do these two concepts differ? How do they interconnect? Who should be responsible for achieving outcomes in each area? Where do we start? These are all difficult questions we have to ask ourselves if we truly want to become companies that reflect and best serve the populations we’re developing therapies for. But this isn’t something our members have to figure out for themselves completely from scratch.
Our roundtable discussions are guided by experts in the field who can share their own insights and connections in our industry and beyond. For our DEI & Health Equity roundtables I have the privilege of working with two esteemed individuals as co-chairs:
- Caroline Mailloux, Senior Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Sarepta
- Chris Reddick, Vice President, Health Equity, CSR & Philanthropy at Takeda
Caroline and Chris have been instrumental in helping us form the convenings and create an environment for attendees to feel heard, inspired, and connected. From this it’s been extremely heartening to see the level of peer-to-peer sharing and collaboration which has happened in our workshops as well as during the networking portion where we bring in minority-led caterers to provide food and drink for our guests to enjoy.
We always try to be action-oriented and leave attendees with clear steps they can take back to their companies. To date we have covered topics including identity, diverse recruitment, women’s health, rare diseases, clinical trials and leadership buy-in to name just a few. In September’s meeting we hosted health equity experts Rosa M. Colon-Kolacko, PhD. MBA, CDM, SHRM-SCP and Aneth Canale, PhD MBA. This powerhouse duo introduced evidence based tools and a self-assessment to help guide members’ internal and external stakeholder engagement and measure incremental progress. We will continue to provide our community with this space and the tools needed to move the needle and invite you to join us to bring your own ideas and expertise. As one attendee commented of our roundtable, “it’s now time for us all to move from philosophy to implementation, and this is the place to learn how.”
To attend, sponsor or present at one of our future MassBio roundtables, contact Suzanne Curran.
To learn more about the health equity self-assessment tool shared in September’s roundtable convening, contact healthequitypractice@globalequitylearning.com.