Statement from CEO Mike Marsh on conviction of former police officer

Yesterday’s verdict convicting a former police officer in the murder of George Floyd is a pivotal moment in our country’s journey toward accountability and racial justice. But it is only a beginning. There is still much work to do.

Mr. Floyd’s murder was a flashpoint for how we must address racial injustice and disparities of inequalities wherever they exist. Hate continues to plague our nation. Last month’s shooting in Atlanta, in which six Asian women were killed, happened amid a surge of hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Mr. Floyd’s killing and the protests that followed prompted us at Overlake to look inward, to ask if we were doing enough to embrace the diversity of ideas, cultures and beliefs that exist within our community and at work.

Since then, Overlake executive leaders began a process to seek to understand and pursue ways to better serve our staff and community by addressing some of the underlying dynamics of systemic racism and cultural intolerance. We engaged a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) consultant, who led “listening sessions” with staff, and followed up with inclusion training for the executive team and directors. Managers and supervisors are now going through inclusion training, and we are working on a plan for educating all staff. We have established a DEI council made up of some of the listening session participants, and they will create a charter and goals to help Overlake become our best as an organization and to one another.

While yesterday’s verdict does not bring back Mr. Floyd, it defines the need to continue the work that we must do to focus on our shared humanity.

Thank you for your commitment to caring for others and for being part of the Overlake family.

J. Michael Marsh
President & CEO
Overlake Medical Center & Clinics