Kathleen Holgerson, Dr. Jeffrey Hines
This month we offer a piece from our Health Disparities Institute titled “Rooted in Wisdom: Garden Party Celebrates Menopause, Sisterhood, and Health Equity” to illustrate our August value: wisdom.
Wisdom comes in many shapes and sizes. It is not confined to academic knowledge, professional titles, or years of experience.
We often make assumptions about who has insights to offer us and may discount perspectives based on our lack of knowledge of different cultures and traditions, as well as what we have been trained to believe counts as legitimate knowledge or practice.
Inclusion requires that we not only include diverse voices but also shift power, so those voices are in positions to shape policies and practices and influence decisions about organizational priorities and responses.
Our HDI’s Menopause Equity Initiative illustrates how wisdom factors into the effort to reduce stigma and create community-informed solutions to support women’s midlife health. Read more about the program and the July 19 garden party.
Here are some things we can do to invite and uplift the wisdom of those whose voices have been historically excluded in education, research, and clinical care.
Challenge Assumptions About Who Holds Wisdom
We must actively examine our assumptions about whose voices matter in conversations about health and equity.
Dismissing perspectives based on race, gender, age, disability, socioeconomic status, or education, even unintentionally, can reinforce systemic inequities.
Acknowledge Lived Experience as a Source of Insight
People who have experienced health disparities firsthand often hold deep insight into the barriers that exist — and the strategies that work.
Including community voices, honoring cultural traditions, and integrating both into care models is not just respectful — it’s strategic and necessary for effective, equitable solutions.
Listen and Lead With Curiosity
Creating spaces where all individuals — patients, caregivers, staff, community members — feel safe to share their truths, believe they are being heard, and see evidence that their feedback is valued is central to inclusive practice.
As leaders, model intellectual humility by acknowledging you don’t have all the answers — and that wisdom often comes from unexpected sources.
Honor Frontline and Community Knowledge
Clinical staff, support staff, and patients hold practical, often under-recognized wisdom about what’s working and what’s broken.
Recognize, elevate, and integrate that knowledge into quality improvement and equity efforts.
Equity work demands we value different forms of knowing — not just data, but stories, relationships, and patterns seen on the ground. This broader view of wisdom helps us design systems that are not only efficient, but fair and just.
We look forward to bringing you additional Word of the Month features throughout the year. Have a colleague or team you’d like to spotlight? We welcome your ideas — please share them at thehub@uchc.edu.
Kathleen Holgerson, MPA
Interim Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Jeffrey Hines, MD
Vice President, Office for Diversity and Inclusion
