Defining the Role of the Health Equity Officer: Guidance for Health Systems

The role of the health equity officer, a health care senior leader with responsibility for stewarding the crucial work of improving equity and health equity, has been emerging and evolving over many years. Due to the rapid acceleration of organizations hiring health equity officers, there is tremendous variation across many aspects of this role, including title, reporting position, internal and external responsibilities, and resources available to plan and execute on a vision.

Given this context, this publication provides guidance and support for the health equity officer (HEO) role, drawing on both research and information supplied directly from HEOs across the health ecosystem. The guidance is a resource for health care executives, hiring managers, and employee recruitment firms seeking to hire health equity officers. 

This publication:

• Articulates the health equity officer role, functions, and values as well as the responsibilities and competencies required for both the HEO and their organization to effectively advance health equity. 
• Describes the IHI Health Equity Leadership Framework: the values, skills, and conditions for success in the health equity officer role.
• Recommends that the HEO role is separate from that of the diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, seeking to move beyond the context of institutional human resources functions for advancing equity as an organizational priority.

How to Cite This Document:
Imbeah K, Bolender T, Maybank A, Burnett C. Defining the Role of the Health Equity Officer: Guidance for Health Systems. Boston: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2024. (Available at ihi.org)

Learn More

• In the Leadership for Health Equity Professional Development Program, learn more about the HEO role and the IHI Health Equity Leadership Framework.