Mayo Clinic renames DEI office to 'Office of Belonging'
Rochester-based Mayo Clinic has renamed its Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity (DEI) to the Office of Belonging, according to a spokesperson.
Staff formerly with titles related to diversity, equality and inclusion will now be noted as "Belonging" employees going forward. The name change is already reflected on Mayo Clinic's website.
'Since 2020, Mayo Clinic has intentionally focused on belonging as a cornerstone of staff wellbeing. In keeping with this focus and recent national events, we're embracing an opportunity to accelerate Mayo Clinic's belonging journey to reflect our culture of collaboration and respect and support positive patient experiences," said Andrew Kalmanovitz, director of media relations at Mayo Clinic.
The "national events" mentioned by Mayo are likely attributed to the Trump Administration's takedown of DEI programs. The executive order signed in January put a focus on terminating positions, programs, grants and contracts involving the mention of DEI.
The order also repealed prior executive orders designed to ensure equal opportunity in the workplace, including a decades-old executive order from the Johnson Administration that required contractors receiving federal funds to take active steps to prevent discrimination and address barriers to employment opportunities.
Trump has claimed the programs are illegal and violate federal civil rights laws.
"Our vision is to create a global environment of empowered belonging," Mayo's Office of Belonging page now reads on its website. "This requires building an environment of psychological safety, making Mayo Clinic a place where people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences can access the best health care and where all staff can bring their authentic best selves."
It continues:
"Equity is embodied in every aspect of Mayo Clinic, from the individuals who constitute it to the organization as a whole. We embrace all people who come through our doors, whatever their race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, military service, faith, or culture. Success is only possible when we include diverse experiences, perspectives, thoughts and voices in everything we do. Mayo Clinic's work regarding belonging is delivered through the internal community of passionate people, committees and initiatives ― recognizing that this work is neither centralized nor hierarchical."
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