We call on Seattle Children’s Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Trustees to immediately resign from their respective roles at Seattle Children’s hospital, and to release the full report findings on institutional racism.

An investigation was launched after renowned pediatrician Dr. Ben Danielson resigned from the hospital and exposed a decades-long culture of white supremacy and racism impacting staff and patients. Roughly 1,000 people spoke to investigators to share their experiences of working in, or having a loved one treated at Seattle Children’s.

The hospital hired former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Covington & Burling law firm to investigate the institution’s “race, equity, inclusion and diversity policies and practices.” That report has been completed, but the hospital's Board of Directors have refused to publish the full findings of that investigation. That is not acceptable.

While the full report’s findings have not yet been publicly published, based on excerpts that have been released we understand that they are clear and damning. Hospital leadership has been aware of the insidious nature of anti-Black racism and explicit bias and done nothing. Nothing to protect staff. Nothing to protect patients. Nothing to hold offenders accountable. The care of non-white patients has and continues to be harmed by the failures of hospital leadership, and non-white staff are disregarded, rather than upheld and supported as the assets they are.

WaBLM Alliance, Dr. Ben Danielson, and Seattle Children’s staff demanded their resignation weeks ago. Current hospital leadership failed to address known issues, failed to be transparent, and failed to be accountable.

Those in positional power who have led, upheld and contributed to a culture of white supremacy causing harm to patients, their families and hospital staff, must immediately step down. For the community to have faith in the process of change going forward, new leadership is required at Seattle Children’s hospital.