Inclusion, Development, Experience, and Alignment (IDEA)
- Overview
- Our Leadership
- Workforce Inclusion
- IDEA Scholars Programs
Overview
Inclusion, Development, Experience, and Alignment (IDEA) is leading organizational transformation and alignment to support our vision to go well beyond medicine. Advancing workforce inclusion is foundational to ensuring every child we serve has what they need to achieve their optimal health, which is how we achieve healthy outcomes for all.
Vision Statement
By fostering inclusion and cultivating belonging, we build a Healthiest Workforce where every associate feels valued, developed, and aligned to advance Whole Child Health and strengthen outcomes for building the healthiest generations of children.
Mission Statement
At Nemours Children’s, we aim to create an environment where IDEA is embedded in all aspects of our organization. We strive to cultivate a collaborative workforce that aligns with our mission to provide exceptional care to children and families, while actively advancing healthy opportunities to ensure that every child has what they need to achieve their optimal health. By fostering a culture of inclusion, we aspire to serve our regional and global communities in ways that empower all members of the Nemours community to have a lasting impact on the lives of the children and families we serve.
The mission of IDEA at Nemours is to champion our foundational values and serve as catalysts for excellence by advancing inclusion, development, experience, and alignment across the enterprise. We strengthen the associate experience by equipping every team member to contribute their best, fostering systems that define excellence, and creating a workplace where all feel valued, supported, and connected. By cultivating a healthy, high-performing, and engaged workforce, we advance the Healthiest Workforce, empowering associates to deliver exceptional pediatric care and Whole Child Health — fulfilling our shared commitment to creating the healthiest generations of children.
Senior Leadership Team
Theresa L. Proctor is Senior Director of Inclusion, Development, Experience and Alignment (IDEA) at Nemours Children’s Health, a nationally recognized, multistate pediatric health system serving more than 10,000 associates.
With more than 30 years of experience in health care and Human Resources leadership, Theresa leads enterprise workforce strategy focused on advancing inclusion and belonging, the IDEA Scholars leadership pipeline program, IDEA education and learning strategy, and Associate Resource Group engagement across Nemours Children’s. Her work centers on building accountable systems that align people strategy to organizational performance and cultivating leadership capability at scale.
Recognized for her ability to translate mission-driven values into measurable organizational impact, Theresa partners with executive leadership and national collaborators to design sustainable frameworks that strengthen workforce excellence in complex, fast-paced health care environments.
Prior to her current role, Theresa held progressive HR leadership positions at Nemours spanning enterprise HR Solutions, onboarding strategy, and enterprise workforce systems strategy, as well as Talent Acquisition leadership overseeing enterprise physician and non-physician recruitment across the state of Florida. She also led HR compliance governance, including administration of systemwide HR policies, and regulatory alignment processes.
She is a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Arkansas Army National Guard as a Paralegal Noncommissioned Officer, including a tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
Theresa holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She is committed to shaping the future of workforce strategy in health care through enterprise alignment, measurable outcomes, and inclusive leadership.
Justin Andrade is the Director of IDEA Education & Learning at Nemours, where he leads the development and implementation educational resources, and tools to support the Nemours Children’s workforce in creating the healthiest generations of children in alignment with Nemours Standards of behavior and emphasis on whole child health approaches. With over a decade of experience in advancing inclusive education initiatives, Justin specializes in building and scaling training programs while identifying opportunities for engagement across the organization. An expert in adult learning and civil discourse, the hallmark of Justin’s leadership is a continuous focus on embracing different perspectives to foster understanding and create positive team environments. As a people-first leader, Justin prioritizes mentorship, professional development, and leveraging multigenerational teams to drive collective action and achieve shared goals. His expertise spans inclusion and belonging strategies, workforce inclusion education, program development, and team building with a focus on strategic partnerships, training, and change management.
Throughout his career, Justin has made a significant impact by designing and facilitating inclusive education programs, as well as helping to launch the first-ever inclusion & belonging function at the University of Central Florida, where he spent 10 years. He has built strategic partnerships across Central Florida, boosting visibility, and driving cultural transformation. By maturing inclusion practices at UCF, Justin increased visibility and maximized impact, driving lasting change and fostering a more vibrant and engaging environment. Justin holds a BS in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and an MS in Higher Education from Drexel University.
Workforce Inclusion is the principle of treating all associates fairly and ensuring they have access to opportunities, resources, and rewards. It means that everyone has a fair chance at success, regardless of their identity, background, or systemic barriers.
We believe that achieving healthy opportunities for all begins with workforce inclusion. A safe environment inspires inclusive innovation and excellence reflected in the quality of care we deliver.
By embracing, celebrating, and cultivating an inclusive environment, we aspire to contribute to healthier generations of children.
The strength of an inclusive work environment creates more satisfied associates with a stronger sense of community and mission.
IDEA Education & Learning
We identify evidence-based, innovating learning experiences to equip associates with the skills to navigate, leverage, and elevate individual differences and positive interactions. Our positive psychology-based education gives associates and managers the tools to cultivate positive interactions within and across teams. On demand or by request, our learning catalog responds to the realities of our organization and provides tools to apply in the workplace.
Our inclusive leadership education developed in collaboration with subject matter experts provides a targeted learning and development opportunity to senior leaders across the system. Equipping leaders and their direct reports who manage teams across our regions with inclusive practices will be essential in ensuring the overarching learning and development strategy focused on capacity building from the top down and from the ground up. We are committed to supporting workplace belonging and being our “best selves” at work.
Associate Resource Groups (ARGs)
Our Associate Resource Groups (ARGs) spearhead engagement events, promote education on highlighted observances, share virtual backgrounds for observances, and more.
ARGs are voluntary, peer-led groups that bring associates together who share common experiences and backgrounds, and/or are allies of a particular group. ARGs are open to all, regardless of background and life experiences.
ARGs promote safe spaces that are dedicated to creating a sense of community and belonging among associates, in alignment with our mission, vision, purpose, values, and organizational goals and initiatives. These groups emphasize appreciation, validation, and allyship for all Nemours Children’s associates.
Nemours Children’s currently supports seven ARGs: Adelante (Latino/Hispanic); Black, African, and Caribbean (B.A.C.) Heritage, DESIaN (South Asian); Disability Inclusion, Healthcare Alliance of Asian and Pacific Islanders (HAAPI); Pride (LGBTQ+); Salute (Military & Veterans), and Women@Work.
ARGs raise awareness of relevant issues impacting our workforce, communities, and informing responses, through:
- Hosting Educational Events and Workshops
- Celebrating Cultural Heritage and Awareness Months
- Facilitating Open Dialogues and Psychological Safety
- Advocating for Inclusive Policies and Systemic Change
- Collaborating with Community Organizations
- Promoting Healthy Outcomes and Patient-Centered Care
- Supporting Crisis Response and Awareness Campaigns
- Mentoring and Supporting Career Development
- Strategic Thought Partners on Organizational Goals and Initiatives
- Integrating Metrics and Accountability
Workforce inclusion is foundational to advancing and achieving healthy outcomes. This requires a multifaceted approach, with our greatest chance for success coming through the engagement of our current and future associates and in partnership with all the children, families, and communities we serve. At Nemours, we go well beyond medicine, not only providing high-quality care to patients, but also cultivating and expanding local and regional partnerships and disseminating innovation to attract the best and brightest next generation of associates who are committed to realizing our vision of creating the healthiest generations of children.
IDEA Scholars Program
Duration | June 2026–May 2027
Purpose | To equip early-career and emerging professionals with inclusive leadership skills, workforce readiness, and professional development experiences through monthly engagements and mentorship, aligned with HR priorities and the IDEA framework: Inclusion, Development, Experience, and Alignment.
This is a 12-month, full-time position where IDEA Scholars will engage in hybrid and in-person opportunities to collaborate with operational leaders on projects that advance whole child health while promoting inclusion and belonging across the Nemours Children’s enterprise.
This program offers recent graduates the chance to gain hands-on experience by working on meaningful projects that make a real impact. As a full-time, temporary associate, at Nemours you’ll receive personalized mentorship, access to networking opportunities, and professional development support from leading healthcare experts. Applicants must have earned or be on track to earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution by May 2026; individuals currently enrolled in or beginning a graduate program are eligible.
For more information or to express interest please contact us at IDEA@nemours.org.