Dr. Toi Harris, senior vice president and chief equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) officer for Memorial Hermann Health System, and Rodney Cox, director of pharmacy and respiratory therapy at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center, have been honored by the Houston Business Journal (HBJ) as part of the publication’s 2023 Diversity in Business awards.
Dr. Harris was honored with the Outstanding Head of Diversity Award. According to HBJ, the award recognizes the achievements of executives who have displayed leadership, commitment and motivation in driving diversity and inclusion in their organizations or the community at large.
“I am extremely honored to be given this award by the Houston Business Journal,” Dr. Harris said. “Diversity in health care means seeing the whole person and providing care that is culturally appropriate. We must foster conscious inclusion, creating ways for people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives to come together to create healthier communities, now and for generations to come.”
Cox received HBJ’s Outstanding Champion Award, which recognizes individuals who have shown outstanding initiative to promote diversity and inclusion either within the community or in their organizations, making a positive difference in others’ lives through contributions to social justice, equality and diversity.
“I grew up recognizing the challenges underrepresented communities have in being seen, not only in health care but also in leadership,” Cox said. “At Memorial Hermann, I am proud to be part of an organization that helps champion and engage people from all backgrounds to make progress in how we care for our communities.”
“Both Dr. Harris and Rodney have displayed exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion, within Memorial Hermann and in the greater Houston community and it’s wonderful to see them both honored for their tremendous work,” said Dr. David Callender, President and CEO of Memorial Hermann.
Memorial Hermann is dedicated to promoting practices that support equity, diversity and inclusion while also building a workforce representative of all areas of diversity, including age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion and culture. Through a multilayered EDI program comprised of distinct councils, Memorial Hermann is engaging in numerous efforts that will help the system meet its goals, break barriers that limit the success and well-being of its workforce, and ultimately better serve its employees, physicians, patients and community members.