A. Tonya Odom will oversee the organization's DEI efforts in the workforce.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield has appointed A. Tonya Odom as director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the nonprofit healthcare organization announced on Thursday.
In her new role, Odom will lead the organization's commitment to recruiting, developing, and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.
"Tonya knows how teams grow stronger and more effective when they embrace diversity and inclusion as a core value; helping organizations and agencies incorporate this value has been a cornerstone of her career," Angela Celestin, executive vice president and chief human resource officer for CareFirst, said in a statement. "Tonya's background and vision of diversity – that diversity is everyone's responsibility – will help us continue to create a team that truly represents the people we serve in order to deliver meaningful and significant impacts on their health and healthcare experience."
Odom has 25 years of experience in strategic diversity planning and leadership, including a 13-year tenure with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Prior to joining CareFirst, she served as the FBI's first chief diversity officer where she advocated for diversity and inclusion; expanding views regarding diversity and how it goes beyond ethnicity and race.
"A lot of work must be done in the healthcare field to reach equity for all, and this work begins in-house,” Odom said in a statement. “I was impressed with CareFirst’s clear prioritization of DEI and know that with the company’s values and goals guiding and pushing us, we can make even larger strides in this area of the healthcare industry."
With her father serving in the military, Odom had an international upbringing that she credits for allowing her to appreciate different cultures and perspectives.
"Change can seem like it's happening slowly but when you look at the whole journey, you can see it is happening, and the results are beneficial for everyone," Odom said in a statement. "The organization's that are succeeding are the ones doing a great job building diversity into the fabric of their cultures. It's not a coincidence: actively embracing inclusion and diversity is a smart and effective way to do business."
“Change can seem like it's happening slowly but when you look at the whole journey, you can see it is happening, and the results are beneficial for everyone.”
A. Tonya Odom, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Jasmyne Ray is the revenue cycle editor at HealthLeaders.