Leadership

NAMSS Guiding Tenants Advance and Support LGBTQ+ Values

By James Frieberg, MBA, CPMSM, CPCS

When asked to support an article for Gateway during the month of June, I immediately felt drawn to pay some deference to fact that June is the annual celebration of Pride Month for the LGBTQ+ community. My goal then became to use the lens of hindsight to critique my career’s trajectory and take a close look at how the medical staff industry has really been a safe haven for me and my many colleagues who also identify as LGBTQ+.

I began my career in the basement of the University of New Mexico hospital’s medical staff office back in 2007 where I started as a student technical specialist who was entering updates to the credentialing database and filing away hardcopy expirables pages using pink SortQuik on my fingers while navigating the office’s electric Kardex Lektriever revolving filing cabinets. Fast forward to ultimately moving on to become the director of the credentialing & privileging program for the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Office of Medical Affairs & Governance where I found that about half of the males were openly gay medical staff professionals. It was something I could not have expected to dream up and was such a stark difference from where I had come from after growing up in remote, rural parts of New Mexico where I wouldn’t have ever expected to even cross paths with someone who also identified as LGBTQ+. 

Here, I intend to focus on how I had reached a place to find that our industry can be a safe haven for LGBTQ+ individuals. After a bit of reflection, I’ve considered how the NAMSS guiding tenants have effectively worked toward helping to shape this industry. I’m also assuming that many NAMSS members may not even be aware of these guiding principles, so I’d like to take this opportunity to acquaint you with them. 

Let’s begin with Tenant No. 1, “Maintaining our commitment to the equal dignity and worth of every person in the medical services industry by creating equitable opportunities.” NAMSS clearly works toward establishing foundational guardrails wherein it’s clear that our industry is a psychologically safe place for my fellow LGBTQ+ MSPs to build our careers.

NAMSS guiding Tenant No. 2 is to “ensure all members feel welcomed by establishing meaningful connections with diverse partners … and fostering inclusive communities.” A focus on diversity and inclusivity here is foundational to ensuring a psychological safe space is available to so many others like myself. 

Guiding Tenant No. 3 focuses on accountability, diversity, and visibility. Reinforcement of these same principles effectively goes a long way to ensure that individuals, especially coming from vulnerable groups, have an environment in which they are able to thrive in their careers. This allows us to really focus on the work vs. constantly worrying about the environment.

Finally, Tenant No. 4 provides for diversity, equity, and inclusion practices being integrated into all professional development initiatives. This may seem like the most fundamental for me, but as a foundational, industrywide standard that is prioritized by NAMSS, it means everything to me, coming from that small, rural town where I grew up never imagining I’d find such a supportive professional environment to thrive in as an LGBTQ+ identifying professional. 

In conclusion, it’s critical for organizations like NAMSS to advance their values publicly and visibly. I’m really appreciative of the longitudinal support from an organization that I’ve been associated with and have volunteered my time to for years now. During this annual Pride Month, part of my celebration this year includes my reflections on this symbiotic relationship with NAMSS. This reciprocal relationship might well be characterized as my taking pride in an organization that unequivocally and unabashedly supports me through its diversity, equity, and inclusive-focused initiatives, tenants, and clear stance to ensure that everyone, no matter their background, feels welcomed. Happy Pride Month, MSPs!

James Frieberg, MBA, CPMSM, CPCS, director of Medical Staff Services Department for
San Francisco Health Network, is the NAMSS Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Task Force Chair.