(PRESS RELEASE) NORWALK, CT — IDOC has announced a strategic partnership with two of the eyecare industry’s most noteworthy diversity leaders, Dr. Darryl Glover of Durham, NC, and Dr. Adam Ramsey of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The two independent ODs and founding members of Diversity Perspective will create and share strategic recommendations with the IDOC management team designed to increase the adoption of diversity, equity and inclusion principles. Results of the partnership include holding two training sessions with IDOC Employees on “Unconscious Bias at Work and Courageous Conversations: Race in the Workplace,” with more planned throughout 2021.
“Diverse and inclusive cultures are providing companies with a competitive edge over their peers.” This quote summarizes conclusions from The Wall Street Journal’s first corporate ranking that examined diversity and inclusion among S&P 500 companies. The Journal’s researchers’ work joins an ever-growing list of studies by economists, demographers, and research firms confirming that socially diverse groups are more innovative and productive than homogeneous groups. (Source: Forbes 2020 link here)
“One of our Core Values at IDOC is ‘Better Together’ — and a strong example of acting within our values is the partnership with thought leaders Drs. Glover and Ramsey, who will bring to IDOC needed perspectives and valuable insights. I believe that IDOC will continue to be an organization known for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and therefore will consistently outperform the market,” said IDOC President and CEO Dave Brown.
Ramsey is confident that the relationship will yield positive and far-reaching benefits. “Recently, IDOC added three diverse OD leaders to its Board of Directors and offered extensive training on implicit bias and cultural competency for the entire IDOC employee team,” he said. “It has been a pleasure to work with IDOC as they do the hard work this mission requires. I look forward to working alongside their leadership team to further increase diversity, inclusion, and equity at IDOC and the eyecare industry.”
Glover cites IDOC’s diversity efforts as an important benchmark for IDOC members and the optometry profession. “There is a dire need for diversity in the eyecare space,” he said. “Today’s patients seek providers who look like them and have access to products that accommodate their cultural needs. Over the last six months, the IDOC executive team has worked tirelessly to incorporate more diversity into their company’s culture. Since then, there has been more diversity incorporated into their board and extensive training on implicit bias and cultural competency within the team.”
In addition to this new partnership, IDOC also reminds that CEO Dave Brown signed on to the CEO Action Pledge in 2020. Here is a link to learn more about that pledge.
View Comments