Heartland Dental was recently recognized by Newsweek for two awards: America’s Greatest Workplaces and America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity in 2024. These prestigious honors come after the organization was reviewed among 1.5 million large and mid-sized companies in a nationwide study and achieved a 5-star rating for both awards. The surveys covered topics like compensation and benefits, training and career progression, work-life balance, company culture, and more.
This dual recognition is a true testament to our unwavering commitment to cultivate an environment where every individual, regardless of their background or ethnicity, is not just welcomed but feels valued, respected, and truly included.
Employee-Led Communities: Fostering Inclusivity
Dentistry has become an enormously diverse career field, where 45% of dentists in America are women. Here at Heartland Dental, we surpass this national average significantly, with 54% of our supported doctors being women. Additionally, our supported doctor network includes 3.1% more Black dentists and 2.7% more Hispanic dentists compared to the national averages. This diverse representation among Heartland supported doctors highlights our commitment to support inclusivity and equity within the profession.
At Heartland Dental, diversity, equity, and inclusion have always been core to our doctor led culture and support model. Rooted in our core values of Execute, Honor, Achieve, Collaborate, Balance, and Celebrate, we translate these principles into action every day. Collaboration, in particular, is at the heart of our organization. We work diligently, intelligently, and hand in hand, always championing diversity and inclusion. As the years have passed, our dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) has evolved and expanded.
One striking embodiment of this commitment is our Employee-Led Communities (ELCs). These communities serve as vibrant platforms, where our supported doctors and team members come together to celebrate cultural diversity, engage in continuous professional development, and contribute innovative ideas to enhance our workplace.
Presently, we are proud to have six thriving ELCs: the Black Employee Network, Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Hispanic/Latin Comunidad, Veterans Employee Community, Women in Dentistry, and Asian and Pacific Islander Connection. These groups are open to any Heartland Dental supported doctor or team member who wishes to join.
“Diversity is vital for Heartland Dental’s ability to grow and innovate in such a fast-changing environment,” stated Nick Hornsberry, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager at Heartland Dental. “Our Employee-Led Communities are instrumental in fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. And when all of our perspectives are represented, we achieve our best work as a company.”
Shaping Our Future
Heartland Dental's DE&I initiatives are multifaceted and encompass enhanced training and education. Efforts include bolstering the company's training programs for recruitment and hiring, as well as providing ongoing education to our team members. A comprehensive three-part recruiter training program assesses our efforts and identifies opportunities to deepen partnerships with a broad range of colleges and universities. Furthermore, company-wide training is being updated to help all employees understand and mitigate unconscious bias in the workplace.
Heartland Dental's commitment to diversity extends across the entire support network. We have a workforce that's 12.4% more women than the healthcare and education industry average. This diversity is reflected in our teams as well, with 15% people of color in our support offices and an impressive 34.1% in our regional and local teams, including the supported doctors. Even within our Operations Leadership, 20.2% identify as people of color, solidifying our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment at all levels.
“The DEI Vision and Mission is clear. Our vision is to build a world-class, inclusive culture within Heartland Dental and the field of dentistry,” explained Kirsty Leyland, Chief Human Resources Officer for Heartland Dental. “And our mission is to create an inclusive environment for doctors, their teams, patients, and other stakeholders, allowing them to bring every facet of themselves to our supported practices and support offices. Everyone at Heartland Dental should feel safe, valued, respected, and included in all aspects of their identity.”
If you're a dental professional looking for a supportive environment that values you, Heartland Dental and Heartland supported practices are the places to be. Watch this video to hear directly from supported doctors and visit here to learn more.
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