By Callie Lutz, Vitals contributor
Employee resource groups are increasingly valued in workplaces for fostering inclusive environments and strengthening organizational culture. In healthcare settings, their impact is profound, influencing both team dynamics and even patient care.
Meet Wes McGaughy and Kat Brooks from California-based Sutter Health, serving as co-leads of the Pride ERG. They provide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer (LGBTQ+) employees and allies opportunities to make a difference. Their work includes community activities, mentorship and providing input to enhance Sutter Health’s care for LGBTQ+ patients.
Wes McGaughey and Kat Brooks at the 2024 Bay FC Pride Night event.
This Pride Month, Vitals invited them to share insights on their motivations, progress and what they would like to see in the future.
Q: Tell us about your Sutter career journey.
WM: I started working in healthcare when I was 16 after volunteering at a local hospital in medical records one summer. When I moved away for college, I needed a part-time job and so I showed up at the local hospital and began working there. After college, I joined Sutter Health working in bioethics research. After several years working for different companies and finishing graduate school, I came back to work in Quality and now work in Analytics.
KB: I have worked in the referral space for about 20 years and joined Sutter 13 years ago as a regional referral coordinator in specialty care. My job was to help patients navigate sometimes complex care paths or roadblocks to help ensure patients got the care they needed. My goal is always to help patients access needed care regardless of where they live, their income or insurance coverage. Now, I’m able to focus on our gender care services to help patients, and when possible, help enhance consistency and access for patients.
Q: Why did you decide to join the Pride ERG?
WM: I’ve always been activist-y. When I came back to Sutter, I learned about the Pride ERG, and hoped to contribute in some way to reduce LGBTQ+ healthcare disparities. While the group has been largely social – which is great – I see a lot of opportunities to address gaps for employees and patients now that our Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dana Beckton is in place and guiding larger efforts.
KB: I was introduced to Gender Care in 2015. At the time, a patient was unable to obtain gender affirming care in the area they lived and would have to travel in order to see a doctor for the care they needed. As a referral specialist it didn’t seem right that we wouldn’t provide this service or resources locally. This started my journey into educating myself on gender affirming care. I became a passionate advocate and in 2016 performed my first trans health 101 presentation to other referral coordinators.
I stayed with Sutter Specialty Network referrals where I became the subject-matter-expert for Gender Care referrals. In 2022, I made the decision to focus solely on Gender Care and became the program manager for our Sutter Gender Care Program. I have the skills that can help mobilize our teams to support employees, patients and grow our services. I feel it’s my obligation to serve on the ERG for my patients and employees who are patients.
WM: Transgender folks have been underrepresented and Kat brings that forward. Our core leadership team is also wonderful.
KB: Wes brings so much pizazz, activism and knowledge to the table. When you put that together, we have this wonderful team, and I see the ERG taking off. We have an exciting opportunity with our current environment and leadership team. We need to mobilize, be strategic, advocate and be a stronger support for employees and patients.
Q: How do our Pride celebration efforts help connect us with community?
WM: One of the causes of LGBTQ+ health disparities is unwillingness of patients to come out to their doctors for fear of discrimination. When the public sees Sutter at events and that we’re cheering them on, they see we’re a safe place for them to access the care they need. This is really important because there are certain screenings and exams that are especially important within our community, and if your doctor doesn’t know, they may not recommend those services in their care plans.
KB: Being at Pride events is a direct way for patients to see that we exist and care. We also hear a lot of direct feedback, both good and opportunities to do better, when we’re connecting with our community. It’s also moving for our employees to participate and have their employer and leaders behind them. Many LGBTQ+ people experience the lavender ceiling and fear discrimination may prevent career opportunities and growth. Our presence helps dispel those worries about working at Sutter.
Q: Do you have a favorite parade experience?
KB: I love Oakland Pride and the Trans March. There’s such a sense of community and it’s all about the participants.
WM: I loved Pride in Paris, but my favorite is SF Pride because it’s my hometown. I like seeing how many people, groups and companies participate, and it makes me feel like I have power as a person. We can’t have too much support. I also really liked Santa Rosa’s 2023 Pride experience. It was Sutter’s first time at the event and I was amazed at how loudly the crowd responded to us being there in support.
Q: What excites you about the Pride ERG’s future work?
KB: We have physicians that are truly dedicated toward the advancement of the SOGI community, and I think they are going to be the upcoming providers and Sutter leaders. With the addition of Dana Beckton as our Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and Warner Thomas as Sutter Health’s CEO, we are moving in the direction of being the healthcare of choice for our community. We are working to make real change and help ensure we’re in a position to contribute in a way that best supports our patients and team members. I am also really lucky to be paired with Wes on this journey.
WM: I am very competitive and want us to show up the same, or better, than our competitors, within community events and healthcare services. I am heartened by how Sutter has stepped up to participate and sponsor more Pride events this year. It reinforces our commitment and ongoing progress. I’m feeling jazzed up.
