As we commemorate Juneteenth, we honor an important moment in American history. While the Emancipation Proclamation was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln and enacted on January 1, 1863, Black people enslaved in Galveston, Texas, did not learn about their freedom until Union troops arrived on June 19, 1865. Since then, Juneteenth has been recognized as the day chattel slavery ended in the United States.
Juneteenth is now an official federal holiday. More than that, it is a day to understand our shared history, recognize the contributions of Black people and renew our commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable future for all. It is also an opportunity to read more about Juneteenth, reflect on how history impacts the present and consider what each of us can do to create a more just future. You can find Juneteenth learning resources on The Huddle and equity, diversity and inclusion resources at the Office of Healthcare Equity.
We will raise the Juneteenth flag at noon on Tuesday, June 18, at all hospital campuses. This flag was specially designed to help tell the story of Juneteenth. There is a star representing the state of Texas, the outline of a bursting star that represents this day of liberation as a new beginning, and the red, white and blue colors of the American flag that connect this observance to the ideal of liberty and justice for all.
At UW Medicine, we are committed to the ongoing work to honor diversity, achieve equity, promote inclusion and secure justice. Thank you for standing together as a community engaged and dedicated to this work.
Sincerely,
Timothy H. Dellit, MD (He, Him, His)
Chief Executive Officer, UW Medicine
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and
Paul G. Ramsey Endowed Dean of the School of Medicine,
University of Washington
Paula L. Houston, EdD (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Equity Officer
Office of Healthcare Equity, UW Medicine
Associate Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington
Bessie A. Young, MD (She, Her, Hers)
Vice Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Healthcare Equity
UW Medicine Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine,
University of Washington
Brad Simmons (He, Him, His)
President, UW Medicine Hospitals & Clinics
Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington
Jacqueline Cabe (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Financial Officer, UW Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington
Becca Kelly (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Advancement Officer, UW Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington
Anneliese Schleyer, MD (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Medical Officer, UW Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington
Cindy Hecker (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
UW Medical Center
Sommer Kleweno Walley (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
Harborview Medical Center
Jeannine Erickson Grinnell (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
Valley Medical Center
Erica Floyd (She, Her, Hers)
Interim Executive Director
UW Physicians
Pranika Laing (She, Her, Hers)
Interim Associate Vice President/Executive Director
UW Medicine Primary Care and Population Health
Jeff Richey (He, Him, His)
Executive Director
Airlift Northwest
