Renown Health Awards Grants to Area Organizations Addressing Diversity and Inclusiveness

Funds used to support those addressing demographic diversity and Social Determinants of Health to improve the health of our community.

Renown Health, in keeping with its mission, vision and values andtheorganization’slong-standingcommitmenttoaddressingthesocialdeterminantsofhealth,announced today it will make available up to $20,000 in fiscal year 2020 to fund projects andorganizationsaimingtoincreasethepresenceandparticipationofwomen,racialandethnicminorities, LBGTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people of low socioeconomic status, and otherunderrepresented groups. Renown Health strongly prefers proposals that convincingly demonstratetheir potentialtoimprovethehealth andwellness ofnorthernNevadans.

The organization wishes to express its interest in supporting programs that enhance collaboration,healthliteracyandcommunication,andenhancecultural competency.

“Improvingthehealthofourcommunityisthefoundationofourwork.Ourmission,visionandvaluesare the essence of what makes us Renown. We are committed to fostering an environment ofdiversity, inclusion and cultural competence where all are appreciated, fully engaged and motivatedto make a genuine, positive difference in the health and well-being of the people and communitiesweserve,”saidTonySlonim,MD,DrPH,Renown’s President&CEO.

As the Kaiser Family Foundation noted in recent research: “Researchers found that social factors,includingeducation,racialsegregation,socialsupports,andpovertyaccountedforoverathirdoftotaldeathsintheUnitedStatesinayear.”https://www.ajmc.com/contributor/sophia-bernazzani/2016/05/the-importance-of-considering-the-social-determinants-of-health#

Annie Zucker, manager of Community Impact at Renown adds, “Social Determinants of Health havea major impact on health outcomes—especially for the most vulnerable populations. I am proud thatRenown,asanot-for-profithealthcareorganization,considerssocialdeterminantsofhealthtoenablemorecompassionateandcomprehensivehealthcareforthe patients andfamiliesweserve.”

According to the CDC, it has been well-established that poverty inhibits access to healthy foods andsafe neighborhoods, and that higher levels of education influence better health. The impact of suchfactors on health is defined by Healthy People 2020 as social determinants of health: “Socialdeterminantsofhealthareconditionsintheenvironmentsinwhichpeopleareborn,live,learn,work,play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomesand risks.” When resources are available to overcome negative social determinants of health, theycanhave a significantimpactonimprovingpopulation healthoutcomes.

“Through diversity, inclusiveness and cultural competence we are able to better understand andrespond to the health needs of our communities. We are committed to continually cultivating anenvironment of cultural inclusiveness. When you have a culture that acknowledges and engageseveryone,theopportunitiesforpersonalgrowthandorganizationaleffectivenessarelimitless,”saidHectorBoirie,MBA,ChiefStrategyOfficer.

“RenownHealthprovidesaccesstocarewithdignityandrespectforall.Werecognizeandrespectevery human being, regardless of race, creed, gender, age, handicap, national origin or ability topay. We give competent, considerate and respectful care in a safe setting that fosters a person’scomfort and dignity and is free from all forms of abuse and harassment, including gender identityor gender expression,” says Melinda Mendoza, BSN, JD, CPC, CHC, CHPC, Chief ComplianceOfficer.“ThisisaRenownHealthpatientrightandweareproudofourorganizationalcommitment.”

Renown Health is also an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive considerationforemploymentwithoutregardtorace,color,religion,sex,sexualorientation,genderidentity,maritalstatus,nationalorigin,ancestry,age,geneticinformation,disability,orprotectedveteranstatus.“Iamso pleased to serve as Renown’s Chief Financial Officer. Less than 13% of the CFOs in the US arewomen. How proud I am to help lead an organization that focuses on attracting talent based onindividual competency and kindness, rather than gender, race, religion or sexual orientation,” saysAnn Beck.

Renown Health strongly prefers proposals totaling approximately $2,500 or less as they anticipatefunding8 organizations.

Renown Health has made this additional funding available for fiscal year 2020. It normally fundsprojects for only 6 months at a time, and Renown welcomes applications for renewal funding insubsequent years. All non-profit 501c3 organizations with offices serving residents ofnorthernNevada are invited tosubmitproposalsbyThursday,June 252020.

Renown Health will review proposals and make funding decisions by Monday, June 29, 2020.RenownHealthwill disbursegrantfunds byTuesday,June 30,2020.

As non-profit hospitals, Renown must meet community benefit requirements to qualify for tax-exempt status, this includes funding programs that respond to public health needs and improveoverallcommunityhealth.

To submit a ‘Renown supports Diversity & Inclusivity grant proposal,’ fill out the grantproposalsubmissionform.

Forquestions,contact AnnieZucker,managerofCommunityImpactat azucker@renown.org.

About Renown Health

Renown Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, Renown Children’s Hospital, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to continually improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.

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When people have to travel to Vegas, or Salt Lake City or California, to get the care that they need, that is a health equity issue.” “So, we stepped in, and transplant became a top priority for the entire team. We have amazing people who have made this happen. Dr. Ernesto Molmenti has 25 years of transplant experience and came from Northwell Health in New York City to help lead this program. Dr. David Mulligan, also a transplant surgeon, comes to Renown from Yale and the Mayo Clinic. Ashley Cardenas, the administrator for the Renown Transplant Institute joins us from University of California, San Diego- School of Medicine. We have recruited some amazing people.” “And here at Renown, we have so many outstanding leaders who made this happen. From Chris Nicholas, our CEO at Renown Regional Medical Center, to Dr. Rahul Mediwala, CEO of our medical group and a nephrologist who has spent years planning for this program, to Jimmy Lao, director of nursing for our Emergency Rooms, to Taralynn Basham, director of nursing for our ICUs, and everyone in between- we say, “thank you!” He finished by saying, “Thank you for the honor. We are excited to get the Renown Transplant Institute up and running, and we are looking to do our first kidney transplant within the next several weeks. Thank you, Governor, for making healthcare a priority. It has been a pleasure working with you and your administration.” Assessments Now Open for Kidney Transplant Candidates The Renown Transplant Institute® at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno is one of only 250 transplant centers nationwide and one of only two centers in all of Nevada. The Renown team is working closely with local healthcare providers and social workers at area dialysis centers to streamline referrals and ensure a smooth transition for patients to the transplant list. The Renown Transplant Institute is now accepting referrals for kidney transplant. Candidates will undergo a thorough evaluation process to determine their eligibility and readiness for a transplant. Physicians may now refer patients, or people with end-stage kidney disease who wish to be screened for a kidney transplant by Dr. Narisorn Atsava-Svate and Dr. Ernesto Molmenti, to call 1-833-RING-NTI (746-4684). For more information visit https://www.renown.org/locations/renown-transplant-institute and https://www.nvtransplant.org/. It is anticipated that the first kidney transplant surgeries will take place by July. To join the fight, donate to the Renown Health Foundation, a non-profit organization registered with the State of Nevada and recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) entity at www.renown.org/donate or 775-982-5545. As the region’s only Level 2 Trauma Center for adults and children, Renown serves over 1 million people and 100,000 square miles. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center is named #1 Hospital for the State of Nevada for 2024, 2023 and 2022.

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