AMMP's Beginning
By Pam Burton, first official Chairperson of AMMP
Reprinted from Winter 1999 edition of Eye on AMMP newsletter
The truth is, you never know what's behind a door until you open it and actually check it out for yourself. Coming to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), I only knew that it was a very prestigious organization with its fine doctors and cutting edge research. I remember saying during my interview that "I would like to retire here." My idealism has not changed. What did happen was that I opened these great doors and found it was quite different than what I had anticipated. To put it directly, I really expected to see more staffing and patient population diversity. Unfortunately, diversity only seemed to exist in certain departments within the hospital and essentially non-existent in management. This revelation has always troubled me but I was so busy the next couple of years that the thought of diversity laid dormant in my mind and heart.
In the beginning of 1992, three years after walking through the great doors of MGH, the Director of my department appointed me to a newly formed task force whose charge was to create ideas for recruiting minority individuals into management positions. The hospital acknowledged its vulnerability and was asking for help. I was honored that I was chosen and appointed to such a hospital wide endeavor. Then I realized, who else could be so honored since I was the only one of color in my department. Nonetheless, I was determined to make the best of it.
The first meeting of the "Minority Recruitment Task Force" as it was called back then was February 25, 1992. There were approximately fifteen of "us." So here we all were, and there at the head of table, convening the meeting, sat a well-meaning nurse of majority. She wanted us to talk about why we thought it was difficult to recruit professional people of color to the MGH. She wanted the truth but people did not feel safe enough to give it to a management person who happened to be white. Nonetheless, we overcame our fear and managed to come up with a proposal for a minority administrative internship program. Inspired by the hospital's administrative fellow program, this program was primarily designed to help minorities already employed by the hospital to develop and advance into better management positions.
We waited anxiously while the proposal was taken to Administration. After some time it was reported back to us that Administration was unable to act on the proposal because the hospital was going through some tough financial times.
A Task Force is exactly what it denotes: A group of people brought together to work on a particular issue. We figured since our task was done, the task force would be disbanded. No so fast! During what was supposed to be our last meeting, we decided as a group we were going to appoint ourselves as a committee. The gavel was passed to me right in the middle of the meeting. Not knowing that this was going to happen, I had to come up with something quick to finish the meeting. The first item of business we discussed as a committee was to charge our name to reflect that we were now a committee. As of August 1993, we were no longer known as the Minority Recruitment Task Force, we were and proudly called the Alliance of MGH Minority Professionals, or AMMP.
I was appointed the first official chair in August 1993, and served until December 1995. Nathan Lee was appointed Vice-Chair; he did not complete his term. When I think back over the years, I would never had thought that AMMP would grow to be such a powerful committee within the MGH community. Now, I feel truly honored that I belonged to the original group of folks to form AMMP.
Although the name has changed once again, to the Association of Multicultural Members of Partners, the acronym remains the same, AMMP. The sound of it has always made me think of something moving onward and upward. You may wonder what if AMMP grows nationally. You say eventually the acronym will need to change. Think again, maybe it can be called the…Association of Multicultural Members of the Planet.
I know you may think I have gone too far in my thoughts, but who would have ever thought back in 1992 that in 1998 I would be attending a ceremony where it was announced officially that the Brigham and Women's Hospital was starting its very own AMMP chapter! So why not dream a little?
AMMP Leadership Over the Years…
Pamela Burton
The first ever Chair of AMMP and a leader in diversity issues at MGH,
Pamela Burton is currently Business Director for MGH Social Services. Pam
will forever be remembered for her extraordinary insight and leadership. Her
influence continues to be reflected today in diversity and multicultural initiatives
around the hospital.
Darnell Williams
During his tenure as AMMP Chair, Darnell Williams, Manager of Management
Recruitment & Development at the MGH, created an environment for AMMP
members to broaden their perspective in understanding the importance of networking
opportunities, skill development, and relationship building within the MGH.
Always a hard worker and caring colleague, his professionalism recreated the
organization's image. Darnell has since left the MGH to become the President
and CEO of the Urban League of Massachusetts.
Ronald Greene, BSN, RN
Charismatic Ronald Greene, BSN, RN, a 30+ year veteran of the MGH,
marked his administration as Chair with a focus on educating the hospital
community about the organization, and making sure that every MGHer felt welcome
in AMMP. Ronald is currently a Primary Based Case Manager in the Clinical
Care Management Unit.
Loretta Holliday
Along with her many duties as former Chair of the Nominating Committee, Vice Chair of the Public Relations Committee and AMMP Chairperson until her term ended in 2004, Loretta was instrumental in bringing identifiable projects to fruition - AMMP website, AMMP logo, increase in membership, and increased visibility for the organization through external contacts, who were guest speakers. She was named member of the year in 2001 and currently works in the Department of Orthopaedic. Her commitment to AMMP will not go unnoticed.
Acting Chairs…stepping in to help out
Denella Clark
Denella Clark, who worked in MGH Human Resources, served AMMP as Chair
for a time before she was offered the position of Director of Corporate Relations
and Special Events at the Dimock Community Health Center. While Denella has
moved on, her enthusiasm and dedication to the organization's goals lives
on.
Grace Elson
Stepping in to act as Chair upon Denella's departure, Grace Elson
brought wisdom and elegance to her leadership of AMMP. Grace, a former Administrative
Fellow at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and directed the initiation
of the Faces
of MGH project.
Mary Chambers
In addition to excelling in a multifaceted role as an MGH Development
Officer and serving as AMMP Vice Chair, Mary Chambers didn't hesitate to step
up and take over the role of Acting Chair until an election for a permanent
chair could be held. AMMP members are grateful that good-natured and team-oriented
Mary remains active with the organization.
• 1992
-MGH Minority Recruitment Task Force convenes.
• 1993
-Barbara Holland becomes MGH's first Director of Diversity.
-Minority Recruitment Task Force renamed The Alliance of MGH Minority Professionals
(AMMP).
-Pamela Burton elected first Chair of AMMP.
• 1994
-AMMP collaborates in MGH and citywide career development events.
• 1995
-AMMP helps create the National Association of Health Service Executives.
-An event honoring AMMP draws 250 people to Boston's Bay Tower Room.
-AMMP collaborates in MGH's first Diversity Job Fair.
• 1996
-Dr. Alvin Poussaint, Harvard Medical School psychiatrist and consultant
to NBC sitcoms "The Cosby Show" and "A Different World,"
puts AMMP's speaker series on the map.
• 1997
-The first AMMP scholarships are awarded to enhance support for Career
Development.
• 1998
-Brigham and Women's Hospital proudly announces the establishment
of its own chapter of AMMP.
-Former Boston Globe columnist Patricia Smith highlights AMMP speaker
series.
• 1999
-Dr. Anne Beal, MGH pediatrician and author who has appeared on NBC's
"Today Show" and Lifetime television and in Essence magazine,
speaks to the AMMP membership.
• 2000
-AMMP collaborates with Partners Employee Programs to inaugurate system-wide
ceremonies honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and featuring
celebrities such as professional basketball great Bill Russell.
• 2001
-AMMP collaborates in MGH's first Latino Heritage Month.
• 2002
-AMMP inaugurates its Excellence Awards program recognizing hospital
leaders.