A Guide for Convening Conversations with Staff About Recent Events in Baltimore

To Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System Corporation managers, directors and executives

Dear Colleagues,

Following the unsettling events in Baltimore last week, Paul B. Rothman, dean of the medical faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Ronald R. Peterson, president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System and executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine, requested that every department create opportunities for employees to come together in a safe place to discuss their experiences, feelings and concerns. This request was prompted out of concern for our employees, and it will help guide Johns Hopkins Medicine in charting a course of action to support the city in responding to the crisis.

To help you plan for these meetings, we have created a simple template designed to facilitate meaningful conversations in your department. The template follows the format used by the Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, which held several town hall sessions this week with its employees. Their discussions included a panel consisting of a diverse group of department leaders. These open conversations were positively received and proved to be a worthwhile experience for all involved.

It is key that you have the conversation within your own leadership team, employing formal leaders who are respected. While all employees are encouraged to participate in these conversations, they are not mandatory. Notes taken during your discussion about what Johns Hopkins can do for the Baltimore community or how we can support employees should be forwarded to Jennifer Clarke, manager of organization development and training, at jclark74@jhmi.edu. She will summarize your notes and forward them to Mr. Peterson's office.

While we are all affected by recent events because of where we work, some of us are much more affected because of where we live. These meetings are an opportunity for your staff to talk and for leaders to listen. We hope the attached guide helps you create a worthwhile and productive conversation in your departments.

Sincerely,

Bonnie Windsor
Sr. Vice President, Human Resources
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Attachment:

• Open Forum Discussion Template