Episode 12
The Importance of Collaboration in Addressing Healthcare Disparities with Andres Gonzalez
In our latest episode, Andres Gonzalez, the vice president of community engagement and chief diversity officer at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses how to be a catalyst for change and lifts Milwaukee as a place where organizations are intentionally investing in the community.
Gonzalez also says that, too often, people in positions of power try to prescribe solutions to communities without first understanding their lived experiences and that this undermines trust.
Finally, Gonzalez shares personal stories about what it was like being uprooted from his beloved home country of Puerto Rico to move with his family to Cleveland and how he supported his mom as she attempted to access health care with limited English skills.
Episode Highlights
11:31 - It's about building trust and understanding what's the lived experience in the community. So, again, we understand what is happening, what people are living through, and then we have a better insight and understanding of what we might be able to actually offer.
21:09 - Let's unpack the pledge. Let's understand what we're signing on to here and then let's make sure that we stay the course and that we are accountable, and also transparent about our journey and how we're either delivering or not on those efforts.
33:31 - I oftentimes remind a lot of the folks that I’m mentoring because I'm actually right now in the face of my career where I can pay it forward, but I'm trying to build the next cadre or leaders that will probably pick up the mantle and run with it, and we'll continue this work forward.
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