The founder and chief executive of nuclear medicine company SHINE Medical Technologies says his company will be doing more to enact meaningful, long-term change in the community following the recent murder of George Floyd.
In a statement to employees and a message posted to his personal Facebook page earlier this month, Greg Piefer said his Janesville, Wisconsin-based company should “not only respond to the moment but make an enduring commitment to normalize equality for all people.”
“Black lives matter. The need to speak out against racism, racial injustice and inherent bias compels each of us as leaders in our community to act,” Piefer wrote to his 119 employees on June 9. “Not just in the short term in response to tragic events, but for permanent and lasting change.”
In addition to new recommendations from its already established Diversity and Inclusion Committee, SHINE is now designating Martin Luther King Jr. day as an optional day of service. Employees committed to spending at least four hours of the workday contributing to “social justice activities” will be excused from work without using paid time off.
Piefer is also expanding the firm’s paid time off volunteer program to include peaceful community service focused on “promoting equality and racial justice.” SHINE—which produces molybdenum-99, a radioisotope used for imaging exams—is committing an extra $5,000 this year for community-based partnerships that emphasize equality and racial justice.
A number of other imaging groups made similar calls in the wake of George Floyd’s killing in late May. The Radiological Society of North America was among the first to do so, tweeting out that the “unjust treatment of people of color must stop.” The American College of Radiology released its own statement soon after, along with the American Medical Association and others.
Radiology provider Envision Healthcare has also committed to company changes, including launching a quality program within the next three months to address racial disparities in care, Radiology Business reported.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.