Cultural Diversity and Multiculturalism in MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Introduction
The concept of diversity can include non-only respect, but also acceptance; it signify accepting that every individual is unique and recognize our own difference. According to MD Anderson web page, diversity can be defined as an amalgam of difference and similarities between all individuals in the MD Anderson setting. Diversity encompasses dimension such as race, ethnic group, gender, age, personality, religion, social status, organization function, education and more. The success of an organization depends on it capacity to accept and recognize diversity. If organizations actively evaluate their handling of workplace diversity issues, establish and enable diversity plans, multiple benefits can result from that; without enough resources and leadership, it is challenging to make diversity an asset. There are initiatives that an organization can implement such as recruiting a diverse board, appointing a chief diversity officer, providing effective training and mentoring programs, forming adequate employee resource groups, etc.(Harvey & Allard, 2014). This paper will outline a research made about cultural diversity and multiculturalism in MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The term diversity is frequently used to characterize the composition of work groups. At the most basic level, diversity is seen as demographic differences. Most likely, diversity focuses on the composition of work groups around factors, which most of the time determines one individual from the other, mostly in terms of apparent characteristics such as gender, race, ethnicity, or age, or in terms of non-noticeable attributes such as education or socio-economic status (Vohra & Chari. 2015). MD Anderson welcome diversity, it is one of their priority and they are completely committed to it, which has greatly impacted their mission and has changed the community for better. Their mission is to eradicate cancer in the world, and what better way to be successful in the accomplishment of this goal is to embrace multiculturalism. A workplace that accept diversity gives room for creativity and new ideas. With a more diverse workforce, companies can put into a place, new markets in several countries, and create better relationships with a diverse customer base. Many organizations believe that a diverse workforce brings a competitive advantage to a company (Grivastava & Kleiner, 2015). Multiculturalism is the co-existence of diverse cultures, where culture includes racial, religious, or cultural groups and is manifested in customary behaviors, cultural assumptions and values, patterns of thinking, and communicative styles
Accessibility of diversity-related material
Accessibility is the aptitude of an organization or of the system to comply with the needs and preferences of each person. MD Anderson Cancer Center uses easy-to-use-tools that make their content more accessible, adaptable to individual; learner needs. MD Anderson Cancer center is an organization designed for a full range of people diversity with respect to language, gender, culture, ability, age and many other forms of human diversity.
Direct link
MD Anderson Cancer Center has made their web content more accessible through the direct link which is: http://www.mdanderson.org/careers/working-at-md-anderson/diversity-inclusion.html. This direct link from the home page of MD Anderson Cancer Center discuss about diversity and inclusion, diversity in workplace.
Search result
Searching for “diversity in workplace” on MD Anderson webpage results in: diversity and inclusion, what is diversity. Office of the chief diversity officer, initiatives, and lenses of diversity. In primary dimension, MD Anderson provides health treatment for every individual regardless of age and gender; they hire people from age 18 and above; the Percentage of the gender in the organization is 67.37% of female employees, 32.63% of male in all employees, and male take 62% of faculty staff whereas females are 38% (MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016). All genders are treating equally and fairly. MD Anderson embraces an active and mentally capable person that thinks critically and adds positively to the organization. They provide services and treatment to everyone without any unfairness attitude no matter your race. Their employee comprises of American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic, White, and Pacific Island. MD Anderson provide services and employs people from different background; it does not matter where you came from or whom you are. MD Anderson Cancer Center is a multicultural environment that accommodates people from different areas and allow them the exchange of ideas. MD Anderson respect each and every one sexual orientation regardless if you are an employee, a job searcher or a patient; they provide services without judging (MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016).
In a secondary dimension, MD Anderson provides cancer care at appropriate locations in the greater Houston area, services that are provided outside of Houston medical center may vary and include medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation treatment and a range of supportive care services; areas such as Bay area, Katy, or west Houston are specialized in diagnostic imaging (Education and Research, 2015) . MD Anderson highly recognize military people and they value their work experiences, sometime military applicants with degree are lucky to be offered higher position: “I was given the opportunity to have leadership position early in my career and I think that makes you a person with greater perspective” said Craig Kovitz, M.D, assistant professor in MD Anderson’s Department of General Oncology (Military service provides ‘an accidental gift’, 2013). Medical treatments are provides regardless of your family income and all religion are respected from both the employees and the patients; all MD Anderson’s personal have the right to practice any religion of their beliefs. Even though English is the primary language use to communicate in the workplace, interpreters are provided for patients who speak language other than English. MD Anderson Cancer Center provides numerous education and training opportunities to undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates, residents, and those wishing to continue their medical educations; they encourage and support learning and creativity (Education and Research, 2015). In the organizational role, no one is favored over another; rules are applied accordingly and frequently throughout the institution. When it comes to the level of communication,MD Anderson’s employees have an open, frequent, and honest communication which create a friendly and trustful environment. If we have to talk about their work style, the number of employee in one department depend on the number of patients and they provide a flexible schedule to all the employees (MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016).
Usefulness of the diversity information
For potential employees, Useful Information are offered to employees so that they have a general understanding of the workplace and how they value individual perspectives. For potential patients, The information provided to customers allow them to know how best they can render services and rate the hospital setting according to the service receives while in the hospital. Potential suppliers, are sensitive to the care of the patients and the burden of co-workers. The mission of MD Anderson Cancer Center is to eradicate cancer in United State and the whole world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public. They create a caring environment for everyone (Education and Research, 2015).
Appropriateness of the photographs and graphic material
In the primary dimension, the images presented in the web site were a mixture of Caucasian, Asian, and American Indian individual, both male and female are represented. In the secondary dimension, the images on the webpage are individuals of high education or organization position. The graphics or images used in the webpage do not correlate with the diversity as it is implied in the webpage content. The content were easily accessible, very informative and well integrated into the web page.
Perspectives
MD Anderson Cancer Center offers a number of education and training opportunities for undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates, residents, fellows and those seeking continuing medical education. They encourage learning, creativity and new ideas, rules are applied appropriately and regularly throughout the institution. There is no favoritism; there is no group favored over another. The employees communicate frequently, honestly and openly which create a friendly and trustful environment. Based on the commitment to diversity, website content, and information provided in the MD Anderson website, individual can be stimulate to join MD Anderson by applying for job, or to seek for care. Customers will love to choose MD Anderson as a primary hospital to receive treatment because of their identity, compassionate character and welcoming heart of diverse people. MD Anderson values and helps to develop individual talents; respect the needs of people and able to apply collective strength towards the complete satisfaction of others because they make diversity a priority and totally committed to it including sponsoring of free continuing medical education for employees that interest in furthering their education.
CONCLUSION
To take advantage from having a diverse workplace requires strong management who integrate diversity initiatives that relate to the organization’s strategic goal. Effective diversity management requires change but the process needs to be deliberative and related to an organization’s core values. To benefit from having a diverse workforce requires strong leadership and integrated diversity initiatives that relate to the organization’s strategic goals. Their total commitment to diversity has positively impact their mission and change the community for the better. I believe that it is their diverse teams that produce the diverse and innovative ideas that make them a first choice for people.

References
Education and Research. (2015, February). Retrieved from MD Anderson Cancer Center: https://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/facts-and-history/quick-facts/index.html
Grivastava, S., & Kleiner, B. (2015). Managing Cultural Diversity In The Workplace. Journal Of International Diversity, 2015(1), 30-36.
Harvey, C., Allard, M. (2014). Understanding and Managing Diversity: Readings, Cases, and Exercises, 6th Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from http://devry-alt.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781323193679/
Military service provides ‘an accidental gift’. (2013). Retrieved from MD Anderson Cancer Center: https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/conquest/spring-2013/military- service.html
Patient Care Information. (2016). Retrieved from MD Anderson Cancer Center: https://www.mdanderson.org/patient-and-cancer-information/index.html
Vohra, N., Chari (Coordinators), V., Mathur, P., Sudarshan, P., Verma, N., Mathur, N., & ... Gandhi, H. K. (2015). Inclusive Workplaces: Lessons from Theory and Practice. Vikalpa: The Journal For Decision Makers, 40(3), 324-362. doi:10.1177/0256090915