Equity. Belonging. Care for All.
Our Vision
We’re building a health system where every patient, employee and community member feels valued, respected and empowered. Through inclusive communication, equitable policies and meaningful relationships, we’re creating a culture of trust, safety and belonging.
Our Commitment
We’re breaking down barriers to care and embracing diverse perspectives. Our work is grounded in patient-and-family-centered care, health equity and a belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive.
We partner across our communities to build sustainable, inclusive economies and environments that support well-being for all.
UVM Health acknowledges that we live and work in Wôbanakik (Woe-bun-ah-kick), the historical and current homeland of the Abenaki peoples and Kanièn꞉ke (gah nyon gay), the historical and current homeland of the Mohawk peoples. We recognize the long history of genocide and land theft used to create what we now know as the state of Vermont and the state of New York, as part of the United States of America. We commit to our shared role in land stewardship and seeking the voices and needs of indigenous peoples.
UVM Health acknowledges the history of slavery and the rich contributions of African descendants for more than 400 years. We acknowledge the exploitation of labor for economic growth and our responsibility to address labor inequities that exist today.
We carry our ancestors in us and are continually called to do better. This acknowledgment is one of many essential steps towards our commitment to create an inclusive environment of care for our staff and community.
Moving beyond acknowledgements:
While our work will never be done, we are partnering with communities in Northern New York and Vermont to take meaningful steps forward.
We are improving data collection to better understand the community we serve and the disparities they experience accessing care within our system. We are developing population- specific resource guides and continue to collaborate with Abenaki and Mohawk peoples during community health needs assessments to help shape our future actions.
What We Do
Culture
We align our actions with our values: collaboration, kindness, safety and belonging.
Experience
We listen and learn from patients, employees, caregivers and families to foster relationships, promote education and ensure accountability.
Community Health
We partner with local organizations to build healthy, sustainable communities where everyone can live, work, play — and reach their full health potential.
Putting Equity Into Practice
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to people — our employees, students and the communities we serve. Through focused efforts in health equity, inclusive education and environmental sustainability, we’re building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
We work to improve the care experience by ensuring consistently safe, accessible and high-quality healthcare for all patients, and we focus on increasing access to care for marginalized communities to ensure our patient population reflects the communities we serve.
Our people are our strength — through employee resource groups and workforce development programs, we’re building a more inclusive, supportive and empowered workplace.
We partner with communities across Vermont and Northern New York to address health inequities through data-driven practices, inclusive engagement and sustainable improvement initiatives.
We're committed to reducing our impact on the environment through green building standards, sustainable operations, waste management, nutrition and more.
Our Leadership
Carla Carten, PhD (She/Her)
Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
University of Vermont Health
Dr. Carten has more than 25 years of experience in strategic planning, diversity and inclusion, health equity and change management. She previously led system-wide DEI efforts at Mass General Brigham and held leadership roles at UMass Chan Medical School, UMass Memorial Health and Cleveland Clinic. Carten holds degrees from Case Western Reserve University and Miami University. Her leadership is rooted in compassion, systems thinking and a deep commitment to equity.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Impact Report
At the UVM Health, we’re building a culture where everyone feels welcome, safe, and respected. Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategic Plan makes DEI central to how we care for our patients, communities and each other. By better understanding who we are, we’re creating a stronger, more equitable health system for all.
Resources
YOU are Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
We believe that everyone has a role to play in building a culture of belonging. While each person’s level of involvement may differ, recognizing the importance of DEI is essential to fostering a respectful, supportive and human-centered environment.
Diversity is any dimension that can be used to differentiate groups and people from one another including diverse perspectives, work experiences, lifestyles and cultures. It includes respect for and appreciation of similarities and differences.
Our commitment to diversity fosters an inclusive environment where everyone feels seen, heard and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives to our collective mission of providing exceptional health care.
Equity refers to fair treatment, access and advancement of all people, by evaluating the norms, practices and policies in place.
While equality assumes that all people should be treated the same, equity takes into consideration a person’s unique circumstances, adjusting treatment accordingly so that the end result is equal.
At UVM Health, we continuously aim to create equity through the assessment of our own system, policies and practices.
Inclusion is a state of being valued, respected and supported. It’s about focusing on the needs of every individual and ensuring the right conditions are in place for each person to achieve their full potential.
Inclusion is a practice that we engage in every day through our collective norms, policies and values. It means ensuring that every individual — whether a patient, staff member or community member — feels that their whole person is welcomed and valued.
Awards & Recognitions
We’re proud to be recognized for our commitment to equity and excellence — from national honors in health care equality to creative storytelling that amplifies diverse voices.
University of Vermont Medical Center has been named a Health Care Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign.
“We are committed to fostering a care environment that reflects UVM Medical Center’s diversity and ensures every patient across our region receives exemplary care in an environment of compassion, trust and safety. Reducing health disparities is central to the work we do each day, and surveys like the HEI are important tools that help us evaluate ourselves and continue to improve.”
– Marissa Coleman, PsyD, Vice President of Diversity, Equity Inclusion and Patient Experience
Our team has presented on hair equity at several prominent national and regional forums, including the American Public Health Association Conference, the National Rural Health Association Conference, the 2024 UVMHN Health Equity Conference, and a local Juneteenth celebration.
