Shiva Bidar-Sielaff has been named as UW Health’s first chief diversity officer, effective immediately.
In her role as the first CDO for UW Health, Shiva will provide vision, coordination and strategic leadership for the design and implementation of UW Health’s initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Upon joining UW Health in May of this year, UW Health CEO Dr. Alan Kaplan identified the need to further diversity, equity and inclusion work at UW Health.
“I am honored to be named chief diversity officer. Equity and inclusion are essential to the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” Bidar-Sielaff said. “I look forward to leading UW Health’s intentional and deliberate strategic work and investment to advance equity.”
Bidar-Sielaff has an extensive background in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion. During her tenure at UW Heath, she has developed a model interpreter-services program and served as an organization-wide resource on cultural competency and diversity issues. Bidar-Sielaff has made significant contributions to our community holding many key roles, including co-chair of the Latino Health Council of Dane County, member of the Madison College Board of Trustees, Madison Community Foundation board member and United Way of Dane County Vision Council member. She has been recognized for her work with the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, the City of Madison/Dane County Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award, and the Athena Leadership Award and was named one of the “15 of Madison’s Most Influential People” by In Business Magazine in July 2016.
Bidar-Sielaff searned her bacheolor’s degree in Translation and Interpretation at the Université Du Hainaut, Belgium, and a master’s degree in International Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She obtained her Certificate in Diversity Management in Healthcare from Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies in 2015.
“When I began my tenure at UW Health just over six months ago, I identified diversity, equity and inclusion as essential work that needed greater structure and support,” said Dr. Kaplan. “We are fortunate that we had someone with Shiva’s background already on staff who is prepared to take this work to the next level.”
