Odesa Stapleton, Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) chief diversity and inclusion officer, was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as a Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer to Know 2024.
In her role, Stapleton oversees DEI education and training, employee resource groups and language services, among a host of additional key initiatives. She is focused on the importance of hiring and retaining talent that values human dignity and directly reflects the communities served by the ministry.
The list recognizes 111 DEI leaders – like Stapleton – who are spearheading initiatives that cultivate safe, forward-thinking health care environments where all individuals feel embraced, appreciated and secure.
Stapleton joined BSMH in 2019. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and earned her law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, State Bar of Texas, American Bar Association and Alpha Phi Omega.
Over the last five years, Stapleton has led the ministry in its robust diversity and inclusion initiatives. In the last year, BSMH has debuted eight employee resource groups, was cited as a Top Company for Multicultural Women and a Top Company for Executive Women, and celebrated a diverse leadership population (directors and above) which includes 13.47% ethnic minorities and 60.6% women. In addition, with Stapleton as the accountable executive, BSMH signed the Healthcare Anchor Network’s Workforce Impact Commitment, committing to hire at least 10% of new hires from economically disadvantaged communities across the ministry’s footprint.