Spotlighting our Providence Swedish caregivers to honor National Hispanic Heritage Month
On the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, Friday, September 15, Jesus Elizalde-Lindgren proudly wore a beautifully embroidered shirt from Mexico as she went about her workday. That evening her family would be dressing up and attending a celebration for El Grito, Mexican Independence Day-eve festivities that countdown to midnight on September 16.
But for Jesus, connecting to her culture this Hispanic Heritage Month is more than personal. As Providence North Division regional manager for health equity, she has supported multiple ways that our facilities and caregivers can celebrate while at work.
"We're really looking forward to sharing the love and growing our HOLA Caregiver Resource Group (CRG), I hope we bring a lot of awareness to caregivers," she says.
Jesus Elizalde-Lindgren (at center in pink shirt), with members of Swedish's LGBTQI+ Program team, is regional manager for health equity with the Providence North Division.
Jesus has a background in community health and says she was always drawn to finding ways to think outside of the box for offering community-centered care, even before she began in our Community Health department. She currently manages a variety of programs within OHEDI: the Cultural Navigation team, the LGBTQIA+ program, as well as various health equity metrics and initiatives. She has been in a unique position to see the OHEDI department continue to develop. As part of many of these health equity initiatives, Jesus gets to support various health fairs, mobile mammography, and other basic health screenings that focus on community needs for underserved populations.
"Health equity is not a new concept, but it is a new focused concept for our organization, and part of that is a culture change in how we deliver intentional care. With this role I am able to be a thought leader and feel like my voice and experience is heard," Jesus says. "I also get to be out in the community with my teams and make sure we bring that voice back to Providence Swedish."
Outside of her job duties, Jesus also works actively in our caregiver resource groups; In addition to chairing HOLA, our LatinX caregiver resource group (CRG), Jesus is among the founders of the Working Moms CRG, and a participant in the Women's CRG. It can be just as important to health equity that our caregivers have the opportunity to grow our community internally, as it is for us to do this work externally, Jesus says.
When not at work, Jesus spends time with her kids and husband and her immediate family in the Seattle area.
Learn more and find a provider
If you have a health issue or concern, it’s important to see a provider for the right care when you need it. Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, Providence Swedish is here for you.
Every year, more babies are born at Swedish than any other health system in Western Washington. Visit our website to learn more about Swedish's maternity and childbirth resources.
For urgent, walk-in or after-hours care, visit one of our Swedish Urgent Care facilities. Swedish Express Care Virtual connects you face-to-face with a nurse practitioner who can review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. If you need to find a doctor, you can use our Swedish provider directory. If you have questions about care for your children or want to schedule vaccines and immunizations for them, contact Swedish Pediatrics or your child’s primary care provider.
Join our Patient and Family Advisory Council.
Additional resources
Hispanic Heritage Month caregiver spotlight: Guadalupe Duarte
¿Qué vacunas necesita recibir este otoño?
Los orientadores culturales ayudan a eliminar disparidades en el sector de la atención médica
“Health equity starts with honoring the humanity in everyone you meet.”
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
