Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at Wellstar

Why is Belonging and Inclusion Important to our Wellstar Team Members and Patients?

At Wellstar, belonging and inclusion are essential to how we live our mission every day. When our team members feel valued, supported, and included, they’re empowered to deliver more compassionate, connected patient-centered care. Belonging strengthens trust, improves collaboration and creates a foundation for healing. In the following spotlights, our team members share how belonging and inclusion shape their experiences, deepen our impact, and help every person thrive.

David A. Jones, Executive Vice President/CHRO

At Wellstar, belonging and inclusion are more than concepts—they are a critical part of how we live our mission and deliver on our vision every single day.

Our mission is to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve. That starts by building an inclusive culture where our team members feel seen, heard, and valued.

When people experience a true sense of belonging at work, they bring more purpose, creativity, and compassion to their roles. That kind of culture does not just benefit our teams, it directly shapes the patient-centered care we deliver.

Inclusion and belonging foster trust, safety, and connection, creating the conditions for team members to show up fully, speak up with confidence, and deliver their best work in a complex healthcare environment. 

By building a culture where everyone, across all roles, backgrounds, and identities feels included, we are not only supporting our team members; we are improving outcomes, strengthening communities, and delivering world-class care. Because when our people thrive, our patients do too.

Dr. Alicia Shelly, MD, Internal Medicine Douglas

As a physician, I have come to understand that delivering exceptional, patient-centered care is deeply connected to how we, as healthcare providers, feel within our professional environment.

At Wellstar, the sense of belonging among team members isn’t just encouraged—it is cultivated. This culture of inclusion empowers us to bring our authentic selves to work, fostering trust and collaboration that directly benefit our patients.

My involvement with the Underrepresented Physicians Business Resource Group has been instrumental in this journey. Through this BRG, we create spaces for mentorship, shared experiences, and mutual support among colleagues who understand the unique challenges we face.

These connections have not only enriched my professional life but have also enhanced the care I provide. When physicians feel seen and supported, we are better equipped to listen, to empathize, and to meet our patients where they are. Belonging is not a passive experience—it is an active commitment. At Wellstar, that commitment translates into a healthcare environment where diversity is celebrated, equity is pursued, and every team member has the opportunity to thrive.

For those considering a career at Wellstar, know that you will be joining a community that values your voice, supports your growth, and recognizes that our collective strength lies in our shared commitment to each other and to the patients we serve.

Cavit Agu, Chaplain, Spiritual Health

As a spiritual health leader, I have seen firsthand how deeply the sense of belonging and inclusion impacts both our team members and the patients we serve.

In Islam, the concept of Rahmah, or divine mercy and compassion, teaches us that every person is worthy of care, dignity, and connection. It is a call to see others fully—to honor their stories, their identities, and their worth. At Wellstar, this is what we strive for, caring for the whole person: mind, body, and spirit.

Belonging and inclusion are not just abstract values; they are lived experiences that shape how we care for one another. When team members feel included and supported, it gives them strength to show up fully, care deeply, and find meaning in their work.

And when patients encounter care that respects their faith, culture, and humanity, it fosters deeper trust and healing. Especially for those from underrepresented communities, inclusion can be the bridge between fear and hope.

Belonging is not separate from our mission—it is central to it. To enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve, we must first see every person as worthy, whole, and beloved. Healing begins with connection—and connection begins with belonging.

Kristine Adams, VP and Chief Nursing Officer, WMG

In nursing, everything we do begins and ends with the patient.

Inclusion and belonging in nursing allow for a richness in cultural backgrounds, viewpoints, and unique considerations in caring for patients.

Belonging in nursing means knowing your contributions matter. It means feeling safe to ask questions, offer ideas, and lean on your team during difficult shifts. We also know that when patients see nurses who look like them, it creates a sense of belonging, which leads to better engagement in care and improved health outcomes. By including all nurses who are committed to patient-centered care, we create common ground that fosters trust and healing. At Wellstar, we know that when nurses feel they belong, they lead with purpose, uplift others, and provide care with heart.

Adam Clark, Director Practice Operations, Co-Chair, PRIDE Collective BRG

At Wellstar, belonging is something we actively build together, and our Business Resource Groups are one the most powerful ways we do that. As Co-chair for the Pride Collective BRG, I get to work with team members to create space for engagement, visibility, and voice of our LGBTQIA+ team members, allies, and community. We bring together team members from across roles, backgrounds, and identities to celebrate culture, share experiences, provide support, and give back to the community. Whether you are finding community, deepening cultural awareness, or helping to shape an inclusive workplace, BRGs are where belonging becomes action.

The BRGs play a critical role in our mission. They help ensure that every team member feels valued and heard, which directly supports the compassionate, patient centered care we provide. When people feel a sense of community at work, they show up with more purpose, more PRIDE, and more presence for each other, for our patients, and our communities. At Wellstar, BRGs remind us that none of us are alone – and that every voice adds value in shaping an inclusive, patient-centered culture where everyone belongs.

Jessi Tran, MHA (previous Wellstar Fellow and current Operations Manager)

Before I applied to become an Administrative Fellow at Wellstar, I spent time reading the DEIB page on the website; watching stories from team members, learning about the culture, and asking myself, “Is this a place where I’ll feel like I belong?”

What I saw was a health system that valued people not just for what they do, but for who they are. And that mattered to me. It is what made me want to take the next step.

When I joined as a Fellow, that sense of belonging became real. I wasn’t just welcomed, I was included, supported, and encouraged to grow. I had mentors who believed in me, leaders who made space for my voice, and teammates who helped me learn every day.

Now, as an Operations Manager, I carry those same values forward—creating space for others just as it was created for me. I actively seek opportunities to stay engaged in DEIB efforts, including being part of our Business Resource Groups for Young Professionals and the AAPI community. I show up to work as my whole, authentic self—and I strive to create an environment where others feel empowered to do the same. Because when you truly feel like you belong, you lead with confidence, learn with purpose, and show up fully—for your team, and for our patients.

Stacy Carrigan, RN, MSN, Ambulatory Nurse Manager, WMCG Health

My understanding of inclusion and belonging has evolved over time. From my early years in the Midwest to my time working in South Florida and now in Augusta, along the way, I’ve come to appreciate the richness and complexity of identity, culture, and inclusion.

My journey as a manager of reproductive medicine and infertility practice, included caring for transgender patients, which made me realize very quickly that creating a safe, respectful, and affirming environment is not optional, but essential. Our team sought out training to ensure we were delivering care that was not only clinically excellent but also inclusive and compassionate. That was the moment I understood the true meaning of creating a place of belonging in healthcare.

I’ve had the privilege of expanding that work here at WMCG including participating in the Leader DEI Certificate Program, serving on our system-wide DEI Council, and chairing our Ambulatory DEI Committee. We’ve developed DEI training for clinic staff for ambulatory sites, and we’re preparing to host our first Wellness and Belonging Summit in partnership with Employee Wellness, Spring Health, and Spiritual Care. Our goal is to create space for connection, renewal, and inclusion.

In ambulatory care, we often build long-term relationships with patients. They notice whether we see them, whether we honor who they are, and whether we truly care. And our teams feel the same way. When team members feel supported and included, it impacts how they communicate, how they collaborate, and how they serve.

At Wellstar, we are not only caring for patients—we are building community. That’s how we live our mission. And that’s how we create the kind of environment where both patients and team members can thrive.