Why Health Equity?

A Cleveland in need

In greater Cleveland, the average Shaker Heights resident is expected to live around 89 years. Less than two miles away, in the Buckeye neighborhood, that number plummets to 65 years – a 24-year drop.

That’s nearly a quarter-century—an entire generation—of difference between two communities a five-minute drive apart. 

In a city with such robust healthcare resources as Cleveland, this is unacceptable. We believe there should be no difference in mortality between groups—no matter how they look, where they live, or who they love.

A new vision for equity

Under the leadership of CEO Dr. Airica Steed, Ed.D, MBA, RN, CSSMBB, FACHE, MetroHealth is in a position to face Cleveland’s drastic health disparities head-on and set a standard for healthcare delivery that centers health equity in every area of care and service.

This work is not new. MetroHealth is already home to several programs that address the root causes of poor health, widen our front doors and create deep, trusting relationships with our communities. These include everything from our Community Health Centers in disadvantaged communities, to the nationally recognized Institute for H.O.P.E.™, to the health fairs and expos that welcome individuals across the community directly into MetroHealth’s care. 

But we refuse to stop there. 

As a proud fourth-generation nurse, Dr. Steed is relentless in her advocacy and her action to eradicate health disparities, zero out the death gap, lift the health and wealth of the community, and ensure that every person achieves their healthiest possible life.

Dr. Steed’s vision is to weave health equity through every process, procedure and approach across our entire system. She created and launched the Health Equity CLE Fund to make sure MetroHealth has the resources to do it right.