Employee Resource Group Provides Opportunities, Support to Asian Caregivers

On May 1, the first day of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Cleveland Clinic established a specialized employee resource group (ERG) focused on supporting and empowering its Asian caregivers. The new Asians Supporting Inclusivity and Allyship Network (ASIAN) Heritage cooperative is one of 10 volunteer employee-led, employer-recognized ERGs available to Cleveland Clinic caregivers.

“ERGs are affinity groups that help drive the organization's core value of inclusion by providing members with opportunities for networking, ongoing education and community volunteering,” explains Alicia Burkle, Program Manager in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. “Members play a strategic role in helping to recruit and retain a diverse workforce by providing personal and professional development opportunities and promoting health equity both in and outside of the Cleveland Clinic enterprise.

“Simply put, ERGs provide a safe environment in which caregivers with similar backgrounds or interests can gather and connect with one another,” adds Melissa Gordy, Senior Project Manager in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Finding community

The ASIAN Heritage ERG was initiated by palliative care physician Kimberlee Fong, DO, who began thinking about forming the group during the COVID-19 pandemic, when incidents of discrimination and violence against Asian Americans were on the rise.

“I was looking for support as a physician and wanted to align with fellow caregivers who might be going through some of the same difficulties I was having,” she says. “Representation matters. I needed to feel seen and know that the enterprise cared about the experiences of people like me.”

“The ASIAN Heritage ERG is not just for AAPI caregivers; it’s also for allies,” explains Dr. Fong. “It's a place where members can learn about Asian history and available resources – and also about some of the caregivers they work alongside.”

The role of ERGs

At Cleveland Clinic, ERGs serve caregivers by upholding the four pillars of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion: health equity, recruiting and retention, cultural competency, and community engagement.

“ERGs are a necessity,” Burkle emphasizes. “By taking care of our staff, they’re able to better care for patients.”

In addition to empowering employees by providing personal and professional development resources, ERGs also provide members the chance to give back to their communities, explains Gordy, who recalls her experience as a member of another ERG, ClinicPride.

When ClinicPride members partnered with the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland to provide health screenings, Gordy jumped in. “It was a wonderful experience I wouldn't have had without the support of an ERG,” she adds.

ERGs can also help employees make connections with caregivers from other parts of the enterprise. Liz Haggerty, a Program Manager in Anesthesiology, says her membership in the Women Inspiring and Sustaining Excellence (WISE) ERG has broadened her career network. “The amazing people I’ve met through WISE have helped me grow both personally and professionally,” she explains.

Moving forward

Gordy says the ASIAN Heritage ERG plans to cover topics ranging from cultural competency to internal professional development resources, including resume writing, at its monthly general member meetings. Because ERGs are employee-led, members have the opportunity to drive meeting discussions by submitting topic ideas through the suggestion box on the ASIAN Heritage ERG’s Cleveland Clinic intranet page.

“We share the vision of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion: ‘Cleveland Clinic is a place for a person like me,’” explains Gordy. “That goal will drive everything in the ASIAN Heritage ERG – from professional development and networking to creating a safe space and establishing a sense of belonging and inclusion.”

For more information on Cleveland Clinic’s ERGs, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at [email protected].