Aya Sponsors CommonSpirit Nurse Leader for the International Women in Nursing Career Development Program

Per the American College of Healthcare Executives, women and people of color comprise only 11% of executive leadership positions. To foster real and impactful change, Aya Healthcare is sponsoring a nurse leader at CommonSpirit Health for the International Women in Nursing (IWIN) Career Development program which is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

Denise Mills is a nurse manager with CommonSpirit Health and has a Master of Science in Nursing. “From a very early age, I knew I was going to work in healthcare. My mom worked in the hospital, and I enjoyed going to the doctor’s office. (Really, I did!) I’ve always really liked taking care of people.”

Founded by Dr. Tiffany Love, vice president and chief nursing officer at The University of Vermont Health Network, the IWIN program will provide education and training for the next generation of healthcare leaders to address healthcare inequities within their workforce and community. Participants will come away with diversity, equity and inclusion projects that will result in measurable and improved outcomes for the patients they serve. 

“Women and people of color are extremely underrepresented in leadership positions within the hospital and healthcare industry. Now more than ever, we need more diverse representation in leadership roles to ensure safety and quality of care for patients in all settings,” said Dr. Tiffany Love. “I’m grateful for Aya Healthcare’s investment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels within the healthcare industry.”   

Denise is committed to addressing health inequities and disparities within her community. “I grew up in a community where we were only one of a few Black families. Fast-forward to today. I’m a wife and mother of five, and I’m working at a hospital that resides and serves families in a predominantly Black community. While my team is incredible and diverse, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the racial inequities that exist. The silver lining is that we are finally being seen and heard. I’m appreciative of the opportunity Aya is granting me and thankful to CommonSpirit Health for nominating me. The IWIN program will open doors for me personally, as well as for CommonSpirit Health. I’ll be learning from the best, and I’m excited for new educational tools and tactics and hearing different perspectives.”

Aya’s investment in our nation’s diverse workforce of nurses creates a more inclusive, equitable and prosperous future for everyone. Dr. Love is an internationally recognized leader in the advancement of diverse women, and we’re honored to support Denise as she continues to advance within her organization and impacts the community she serves. Visit the International Women in Nursing Career Development program for more details.