Scripps Health

Building bridges towards mentorship to expand representation

Scripps Health, a San Diego-based healthcare system with five hospitals, 32 clinics, and over 17,000 employees, faced a critical challenge in leadership representation. A comprehensive staff survey revealed two significantly underrepresented groups: LGBTQ+ employees and Black workforce members. The data showed that Black employee representation in leadership roles was disproportionately low, and the survey feedback highlighted employees’ desire for increased pathways to advancement and greater recognition within the organization.

The Black Workforce Affinity Group (BWAG), consisting of employees, two co-leaders, and a member of the HR team, emerged as a powerful vehicle for change. Through their analysis, they identified a fundamental gap:

While Scripps offered tuition reimbursement and other traditional benefits, the organization lacked structured career pathing support specifically designed to address barriers faced by underrepresented employees.

The team seized the opportunity to develop an approach to leadership development that would not only benefit Black employees but establish a replicable model for broader organizational change.

This innovation story was made possible through funding from The James Irvine Foundation