It makes perfect sense that a center dedicated to serving people with disabilities would be involved with Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s (VUMC) employee resource group (ERG) for employees with disabilities. And sure enough, two Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) leaders have been with this disability ERG from its creation, and one of them, Tennessee Disability Pathfinder program director Megan Hart, M.Ed., serves as the group’s facilitator.
The Disability ERG is one of now seven specialized employee resource groups offered as part of an ongoing commitment to foster inclusion and celebrate diversity at VUMC.
Employee resource groups are employee identity- or experience-based organizations whose goal is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace. Also known as affinity or network groups, ERGs are intended to build community, provide support, and contribute to employees’ personal and professional development. ERGs can also assist with organizational challenges such as understanding customer needs, enhancing employee engagement, and strengthening recruiting and retention efforts.
The Disability ERG is co-sponsored by Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VKC UCEDD) co-director Elise McMillan, J.D., and Pathfinder director Megan Hart and officially launched on Oct. 29, 2020, during a lunchtime webinar. The program included remarks made by then-VUMC chief diversity officer André Churchwell; insight about the importance of disability employment resource groups shared by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee employment and support specialist and “The Landscape” podcast host Naveh Eldar; and a moderated panel of VUMC employees who have disabilities. Most importantly, participants were informed about plans for the Disability ERG and encouraged to join.
“After launching in October 2020, we spent a couple of months recruiting members before having our first membership meeting in January 2021,” said Megan Hart. “Since then, we have continued to grow to currently include 47 members of the Disability ERG. We typically have been meeting during lunch on the third Thursday of every month. The meeting topics have varied from planning discussions to presentations about VUMC human resources, autism, and developmental disabilities awareness.
“VUMC employees with disabilities and allies – employees interested in our efforts – are welcome and encouraged to join the Disability ERG,” she added.
“We were happy when the Disability ERG was added to the list of other existing ERGs and are proud that VUMC offers this opportunity to employees with disabilities and employees interested in supporting those with disabilities. A more diverse workforce makes us a stronger organization,” said Elise McMillan.
The Disability ERG has been a welcome opportunity for VUMC employees to meet individuals with whom they might not have crossed paths otherwise, to discuss topics that are important to them, and to advance accessibility, inclusion, and equity within the VUMC workforce.
Promoting inclusion is nothing new for VKC staff members, whose mission is to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families through their work. But Megan Hart is happy to take the positive experience she’s had working with the Tennessee Disability Pathfinder team and to share it with others.
“As an employee with a disability, I appreciate being part of an inclusive and diverse work environment where my skills and experience have been recognized and supported in my role as program director of Pathfinder,” said Hart. “For more than nine years with Pathfinder, I have been proud to lead a diverse group of colleagues that reflect the diversity of the individuals we serve. I value the unique perspectives we each contribute to the overall success of Pathfinder. I want my involvement with the Disability ERG to lead to more opportunities for potential and current VUMC employees with disabilities to experience the same benefits of working in a supportive, inclusive, and diverse setting as I have experienced.”
The VUMC Disability ERG will continue to meet regularly, with a special effort to engage more VUMC employees with disabilities through virtual meetings and special activities in the future. To request membership in the Disability ERG, complete this interest form. For more information, email disabilityerg@vumc.org.
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