02/12/2026
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY: Jasmine is making a difference at SIH.
"I wish more people understood that working in healthcare isn’t just about operations, policies, or productivity metrics—it’s about people. Every decision we make behind the scenes directly affects someone’s mother, father, child, or loved one.
As a healthcare leader, I carry the weight of balancing efficiency with empathy. There’s an emotional responsibility that comes with knowing our work impacts real lives every single day. Working at Southern Illinois Healthcare has reinforced for me that diverse perspectives are not just a “nice to have”—they are essential. When people from different backgrounds sit at the table, conversations become richer. We ask better questions.
We catch blind spots. We design processes that reflect the realities of the communities we serve. I’ve seen firsthand how listening to different voices—clinical staff, frontline employees, administrators, and community members—leads to better collaboration and more thoughtful solutions.
Diversity strengthens innovation, builds trust within our teams, and ultimately creates better outcomes for our patients. Southern Illinois Healthcare has taught me that when every voice truly matters, we don’t just improve systems—we transform the way care is delivered in our community." -Jasmine Porter
