McLean Establishes Anti-Racist, Justice, and Health Equity Oversight Committee

McLean Hospital is committed to addressing racial injustice and inequity within its walls and more broadly across the greater Boston and national communities. With these goals in mind, McLean is committed to taking accelerated yet thoughtful action.

Today, McLean President and Psychiatrist in Chief Scott L. Rauch, MD, announced a second major step in the hospital’s anti-racist agenda: the establishment of the McLean Anti-Racist, Justice, and Health Equity Oversight Committee. This committee will oversee the development, implementation, evaluation, and advancement of the hospital’s anti-racist strategic plan.

Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, PhD, director and founder of the College Mental Health Program, will lead the oversight committee as chair. In addition, in this capacity, Pinder-Amaker will become a standing member of the McLean President’s Cabinet, further ensuring that the work of the committee is integrated into the hospital’s mission elements.

Pinder-Amaker and the oversight committee will build upon the work initiated by the Anti-Racist, Justice, and Health Equity Task Force, which was established immediately following the racial violence and social unrest that swept our nation earlier this month.

“Last week, the McLean community observed a moment of reflection that ended with a call to action. The Anti-Racist, Justice, and Health Equity Task Force action plan is a comprehensive response to this call. I’m eager to join all of my McLean colleagues in advancing the specific actions outlined,” noted Pinder-Amaker.

While identifying and appointing key members of the oversight committee is underway, in early July, Pinder-Amaker anticipates sharing an executive summary of the work in progress action plan developed by the Anti-Racist, Justice, and Health Equity Task Force.

About Dr. Pinder-Amaker

Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, PhD, has over 25 years of experience in college student mental health treatment, administration, and policy. In addition to being the founder of McLean’s College Mental Health Program, she is a highly sought-after speaker on strengthening continuity of care and on how to bolster communication between campus- and community-based systems, eliminate barriers to mental health treatment, and better support marginalized students. She is a member of the WHO World Mental Health International College Student Initiative. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Duke and her doctorate in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt.

Pinder-Amaker has been a member of the McLean community for 12 years. She currently serves as co-chair of the McLean Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, serves on the Mass General Brigham Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Mass General Brigham Annual DEI Summit Steering Committee, and co-founded McLean’s Multicultural Psychology Consultation Team in 2016. She has published on changing institutional values and diversifying the behavioral health workforce.