The LGBTQ+ Colleague Resource Group at HealthPartners creates a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ colleagues through building relationships, offering professional development opportunities and acting as a resource for businesses. Katie Paro, a resource group leader and the specialty and operations manager at our Burnsville clinic, shares the CRG’s vision, how it engages with colleagues and stories from her own experience and journey.

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Supporting patients without practicing medicine

Katie Paro lives in Eden Prairie and has a 2-year-old daughter. While Minnesota is home now, she grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, with a number of other years spent “bouncing around the country.”

Paro’s been with HealthPartners for five years, but her career began when she graduated and got a job at Planned Parenthood. It was there, she says, that she learned how someone who doesn’t practice medicine can still be on the frontlines of supporting and caring for patients.

Paro says it was her experiences growing up, always feeling like the odd one out, that led to her passion for helping people feel welcome and comfortable, no matter their background. “That’s really carried through for me my entire career,” she says.

Leading the LGBTQ+ colleague resource group

The LGBTQ+ colleague resource group (CRG) was originally an LGBTQ+ business engagement network. Its purpose was to connect members of the LGBTQ+ community and support initiatives that promoted equality and safety. When it converted into a HealthPartners CRG, Paro became one of its co-leaders.

As co-leader, Paro says she helps create agendas for meetings, makes space for colleagues and helps engage more folks in the group. A focus of hers has long been getting more colleagues involved, not just leadership.

Current initiatives

The group takes many different paths, says Paro. They balance behind the scenes efforts – things like getting pronouns listed on work badges – with social efforts that are equal parts entertaining and an opportunity for struggling colleagues to get support and resources.

One challenge Paro and the group are undertaking this year is finding a way to diversify the colleagues that represent the group. She says most members are in operations or administrative roles, but they’re working on ways to engage people who don’t have as much flexibility in their roles. Another challenge is the creation of a peer support group.

The LGBTQ+ CRG is also open to allies. Paro says this is very intentional. You don’t always know who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and not everyone in the community is ready to come out at work. Allies are welcome on their own merits as well for the anonymity they help provide for colleagues not ready to be out at work.

Benefits to patients

Paro says that anytime we focus on equity in the workplace, we’re highlighting the experiences of the disenfranchised or marginalized. This helps patient care become more equitable and empathetic. Additionally, she points out that the CRG helps care for colleagues so that they can be their best selves for patients.

In order to help serve and support our diverse population, says Paro, we have to serve and support our diverse workforce. To hear more from Katie Paro, listen to this episode of Off the Charts.