The Intersection of DEI and Health Equity -
Intentionality for Impact

It is not uncommon to hear the terms “diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI),” and “health equity” used interchangeably. While they do overlap and there is synergy between the two, the terms are not synonymous. Join us in learning what these terms encompass, where they intersect, and what role employers play in addressing health equity as a part of their DEI strategies.

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Sady Alvarado-Fischer, M.S., CDE® (she/her/ella) is a dynamic and highly sought-after, award-winning Queer, Latina speaker who is known for her energy and passion around social justice issues. 

As the Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Sady develops, leads, and executes the company’s DEI strategy. In 2019, she created and implemented what she calls the “I.D.E.A. Mindset” (inclusion, diversity, equity, and access) —which became one of the company’s seven core values in 2022.

Under her leadership, DEI went from one department’s job to everyone’s responsibility to apply an I.D.E.A. Mindset. She has led the implementation of several policies, programs, and practices that are intentional about addressing and eliminating the impact of biases in all parts of the business.

In addition to leading corporate key DEI goals, Sady works across all lines of business to identify and implement key divisional DEI-related goals. 

Some successes include:  Juneteenth is now a company holiday; all employee lock screens feature key monthly DEI messages; hiring practices include implicit bias training; new mentoring program to increase visibility of diverse talent; gender identity strategy in place to better affirm transgender employees and members; and racism, white privilege, and other forms of oppression, are recognized as root causes in health inequities.  

In 2021, under Sady’s leadership, the company accomplished two “firsts”: 1) Excellus BCBS applied for the first time to the Disability Equality Index (DEI) and was named one of the Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion, receiving a top score of 100 percent. 2) Excellus BCBS also released their first, annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion report. 

Sady volunteers her time with many community initiatives, such as being a contributor to the 2021 Rochester Latinx Agenda, a 53-page document, addressing some of the DEI needs of Latinx communities. Sady is a member of the RBJ Women’s Council Board; Greater Rochester Health Foundation Board; Causewave Community Partners Board; the Rochester Latinx Roundtable; University of Rochester Medical Center’s Community Advisory Council; the Latino Leadership Development Program and Pride Leadership Development Program Executive Steering Committees through the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes. 

Her work has received several local, state, and national awards, and she was most recently honored with a 2022 Colors of Success DEI Leader Award by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. Sady was one of 200 women featured in the Changemakers exhibit at the Rochester Museum and Science Center (November 2020 - May 2021). She is a 2020 and 2019 Profiles in Diversity Journal, Diversity Leader Award winner; Dale Carnegie “Highest Award for Achievement” and “Outstanding Performance” Award recipient; 2017 Leadership Rochester Alumna and Class Representative; the 2016 recipient of Latinas Unidas “Reconocimiento Volunteer Service” Award; a 2013 Democrat & Chronicle’s “Woman to Watch”; a 2009 “Latina to Watch” in La Voz; and the 2008 recipient of the NYS Commissioner’s “Distinguished Service Award” for her work around HIV/AIDS.  

Sady holds a master’s in leadership and organizational change from Nazareth College and a bachelor’s in gender studies from Empire State College and is a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE®). 

When she is not trying to shift perceptions and break through stereotypes, you can find her spending quality time with her wife, Leslie, and their three children. 

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