HCN News & Notes

Baystate Names Tyonne Hinson Senior VP, Chief Diversity, Health Equity & Inclusion Officer

SPRINGFIELD — Tyonne Hinson, who has more than 20 years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion alongside clinical and executive nursing leadership, healthcare administration, and international/global healthcare, has been named senior vice president and chief Diversity, Health Equity & Inclusion officer of Baystate Health. Her appointment becomes effective Jan. 3, 2023.

Hinson will be responsible for leading efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout Baystate Health through the proactive development of programs and initiatives that support the creation of an inclusive environment of diverse caregivers who share a deep sense of belonging built on the principles of dignity and respect. She will report directly to Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health.

Since May 2018, Hinson has served as Boston Children’s senior director of Nursing & Patient Care Operations Diversity Initiatives and the Nursing Career Lattice Program. While there, she led, directed, and contributed to departmental diversity and inclusion strategies to strengthen workforce advancement, mentorship, recruitment and retention, and professional development for 3,000 registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses, as well as nearly 3,000 interprofessional colleagues spanning numerous clinical disciplines, including pharmacy, nutrition, social work, PT/OT, and child life services. She also contributed to a broad range of enterprise and patient-care-focused activities to strengthen Baystate Children’s diversity, inclusion, and health-equity portfolio.

A 2018-19 graduate of the MGH Disparities Leadership Program, Hinson has been an active collaborative partner to external leaders, community organizations, and academic institutions focused on advancing inclusive excellence and workforce diversity among nurses and healthcare professionals in the Greater Boston region and nationally.

Prior to joining Boston Children’s, she was previously with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Baystate Medical Center in senior nursing roles directing neonatal nursing practice, leading international/global health-nursing initiatives, and partnering with several leaders to create a wide range of strategies to build nursing and the clinically focused workforce.

As a former employee of Baystate, she played an integral role in the hospital’s inaugural Magnet journey for nursing excellence, which Baystate Medical Center continues to uphold today. She also co-created a nurse-extern program to build a pipeline for underrepresented candidates.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Hinson back to Baystate Health. Our goal as an organization is to further reflect the increasingly diverse communities we serve. This is critical to our success in retaining and attracting a new generation of talent to Baystate Health and allowing us to meet our patient-care mission,” Keroack said. “Dr. Hinson has the extensive knowledge and multi-faceted experience that will assist Baystate to achieve its vision, and she also brings a familiarity and fondness for the people and surroundings of Western Massachusetts.”

Hinson holds a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Syracuse University, a master of science in nursing degree with a focus in healthcare administration from Villanova University, and a doctor of public health degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also holds nurse executive board certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Her professional memberships and affiliations include the American Nurses Assoc., ANA Massachusetts, the National Black Nurses Assoc., the New England Regional Black Nurses Assoc., Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Hinson has been published in several peer-reviewed journals and is a sought-after presenter at many conferences, symposiums, and workshops around the country. She was honored by her peers in 2019 with the Dr. Terry Nance Award for Inclusive Excellence presented by Villanova University and in 2021 with the Black Achievers Award presented by Boston Children’s Hospital. In October 2022, her lead-author publication, “Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Nursing Workforce,” was named 2022 Practice Paper of the Year by MCN Journal.