Dec 7, 2018 Nutley Resident Named Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Clara Maass Medical Center

Belleville, NJ -- Desyra A. Highsmith-Holcomb has been named to the position of Director, Diversity and Inclusion at Clara Maass Medical Center (CMMC) effective November 26th.

“I am thrilled to welcome Desyra aboard” said Mary Ellen Clyne, President and Chief Executive Officer of Clara Maass Medical Center. “In her new role, Desyra’s work will directly focus on reinforcing our commitment to valuing diversity, equity and inclusion in every way at Clara Maass” Clyne said.

“The Director of Diversity and Inclusion is a new role at CMMC and Desyra will be responsible for expanding and integrating the Corporate Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s plan at CMMC, which includes developing tactics and strategies to ensure that the hospital continues to incorporate equitable, culturally-competent, patient-centered care to its diverse patients and surrounding community. ” said Trina Parks, MHA, FACHE, Senior Vice President, Corporate Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at RWJBarnabas Health. Clara Maass Medical Center is one of 14 facilities of RWJBarnabas Health.

“Desyra has a proven track record of achievements in leadership and the human resources industry, and I look forward to working with her to implement programs focused on diversity and inclusion initiatives at Clara Maass Medical Center” said Alfred Torres, MBA, Chief Human Resources Officer at Clara Maass Medical Center.

As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Desyra will implement and manage specific initiatives under the guidance of the Chief Diversity Officer that will include project development for patient experience, population health, local supplier inclusion, operational alignment and excellence, as aligned with the system-wide goals for health equity within the populations served by RWJBH as well as the health care System’s workforce.

Ms. Highsmith-Holcomb comes to CMMC from William Paterson University in Wayne, where she held various roles including Associate Director of Human Resources, Director of Talent Management and more recently, Chief Diversity Officer. There, she developed and executed initiatives to advance the University’s culture, improve employee engagement and to recruit and retain a diverse universe of faculty, staff and administrators. She delivered opportunities for the University community to increase awareness of issues related to discrimination, equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion. She also established partnerships and outreach strategies to foster inclusion and engagement and helped to drive strategies and operationalize business objectives in the areas of recruitment, hiring, training and development, employee relations and engagement, institutional culture and reward and recognition.

During her tenure at Legrand & Middle Atlantic Products in Fairfield from 2005-2014, Ms. Highsmith-Holcomb held the role of Human Resources Manager, Manager of Human Resources-Center of Excellence and Training and Development Manager. In these roles she developed and led a host of employee and leadership programs that ranged from organizational and professional development programs to employee engagement and HR branding. From 2000 to 2005 she was also a Corporate Trainer at Middlesex and Raritan Valley Colleges.

Ms. Highsmith-Holcomb earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology from Rutgers University-New Brunswick and a graduate degree in Strategic Corporate Communication from William Paterson University and a certification in Human Resources Management from Farleigh Dickinson University. She has also earned certifications as a Franklin Covey Trainer and she is also certified in Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator Personality Assessment.

Ms. Highsmith-Holcomb has been recognized for her work in Innovation, Global Communication, and for her work in developing employee engagement programs. She currently holds professional memberships in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA), the Association for Talent Development (ASTD) National and North Jersey Chapter and the American Council on Higher Education.

Ms. Highsmith-Holcomb will have a dual reporting relationship to Alfred Torres, Chief Human Resources Officer and to Trina Parks, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for RWJBarnabas Health.

Desyra A. Highsmith-Holcomb, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Clara Maass Medical Center

Desyra A. Highsmith-Holcomb, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Clara Maass Medical Center


About Clara Maass Medical Center
Located in Belleville, NJ, Clara Maass Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, provides a complete continuum of care to residents of northern New Jersey. Clara Maass recently completed state-of-the-art campus expansion project featuring a new four-story 87,000 square foot building with a private, 32-bed Intensive Care Unit, new Main Entrance and Lobby, Retail Pharmacy, Patient Registration Area and designated new space to accommodate our future Emergency Department expansion. Clara Maass’ services include: The Cancer Center, Center for Breast Health and Disease Management, Radiation Oncology, Infusion Therapy, Cardiac Services Elective and Emergency Angioplasty and Cardiac Rehabilitation, The Pain Management Center, The Joint & Spine Institute, a Vascular Lab, The Vein Center, The Wound Center, The Center for Sleep Disorders, The Bariatric Surgery Center, Rehabilitation; Therapy Services which includes, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, The Eye Surgery Center, Maternity Services and Parent Education, Pediatrics, Center of Excellence for Latino Health, and the Health and Wellness Center. Clara Maass has been recognized with eleven Grade ‘A’ scores for patient safety and quality by The Leapfrog Group. It is listed by the American Hospital Association as one of Healthcare’s Most Wired hospitals. In 2016-17 Clara Maass has received the Healthgrades Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award and the Labor and Delivery Excellence Award. Clara Maass received Disease Specific Care Certification from the Joint Commission for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), Congestive Heart Failure, Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Advanced Certification in Palliative Care. Clara Maass earned Clara Maass’ steadfast commitment to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves is exemplified through award winning programs including the nationally recognized HELP Volunteer program, recipient of the American Hospital Association 2017 HAVE Award, and the Wellness Assessment Van for Elders (WAVE) which was recognized as the New Jersey Hospital Association’s 2017 HRET Community Outreach Award. For a physician referral or more information about Clara Maass, call 1-888-724-7123 or visit www.rwjbh.org/claramaass.