Patrice Matchaba of Novartis Speaks About Company’s Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity

Novartis recently stepped up its efforts toward diversity and inclusion by launching the Beacon of Hope program, an initiative that works to create fruitful partnerships with 26 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Late last month, Ed Miseta, Chief Editor of Clinical leader, discussed the program with Patrice Matchaba, MD, Head of US Corporate Responsibility at Novartis, and President of the Novartis US Foundation.

When asked about why the company chose last month to launch the initiative, Matchaba said, “The Beacon of Hope Collaboration is our bold response to a problem that we simply cannot ignore: health disparities rooted in systemic racism. The exclusion of Black people from the research and development ecosystem – which was in place long before the Covid-19 pandemic hit – has created a situation that produces mistrust and delays access to life-saving innovative medicines and effective treatments, while further widening the racial disparities in care that have impacted communities of color for generations.”

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(Source: Clinical Leader, July 21st, 2022)