How UPMC is Advancing Supplier Diversity and Strengthening Economic Equity in Healthcare

This NMSDC Equity in Business Podcast episode features George Robinson, Director of Supplier Diversity and Inclusion for UPMC.UPMC is a world-renowned health care provider, and insurer that operates 40 hospitals with more than 700 doctors’ offices and outpatient centers. It serves people throughout western and central Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and around the globe.In this interview, Robinson unpacked UMPC’s DEI ecological model that empowers internal employees and diverse suppliers. Key takeaways include: Educational, career, and entrepreneurial experiences, along with professional exposure and examples, are key factors in the success of MBEs.Successful MBEs and corporations seeking diverse suppliers, like UPMC, undergo multiple stages of development before achieving breakthroughs. UPMC’s supplier diversity efforts have significantly evolved over the past 33 years, becoming far more effective than when they first began.UPMC built a strong framework for supplier diversity by developing policies, engaging externally, advocating for diversity, fostering internal buy-in, and securing executive sponsorship.Employees at all levels, both new and experienced, receive training that reinforces the importance of supplier diversity as a shared responsibility across the organization.UPMC educates MBEs on meeting supplier requirements, scaling their businesses, and positioning themselves for opportunities with other companies.UPMC’s supplier diversity efforts bridge economic development and healthcare, fostering job creation and business growth at the community level. Additionally, these diverse suppliers help UPMC deliver world-class healthcare and life-changing medicine to the same communities they serve.UPMC’s diverse sourceable spend currently stands at 6.7–7%, compared to the national healthcare industry average of 0.75–1.25%.Guest:George Robinson, Director of Supplier Diversity and Inclusion, UPMCHost and Production Specialist:John G. Daniel is a believer, advocate for underserved communities, and published writer, with vast transformative leadership experience in the energy sector, economic development, hurricane recovery, and youth/community education and empowerment. Itoro Umontuen is the editor of this project and is an award-winning photographer, reporter, and mixed-media journalist.About the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC):Founded in 1972, NMSDC is the longest-operating business growth engine for the broadest group of systematically excluded communities of color (Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, and Native American), and our impact goes far beyond the supply chain. It’s about upward mobility for the emerging majority of Americans, an equal shot at participating in the American experiment of free-market capitalism and entrepreneurship. Our work is about correcting the unequal access to wealth-building opportunities. For more information, please visit nmsdc.org.Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.