For a global healthcare leader with 109,000 employees in more than 160 countries, diversity is not just the right thing to do – it's a business necessity. It starts with our people and spans our values, business model and purpose.

Abbott exists because of that purpose – helping people live their fullest lives through better health. This work demands constant innovation and creativity. We've always found that diverse perspectives generate new and better healthcare innovations. Bringing these innovations to more people and more places demands that we understand and reflect the diverse communities we serve.

One reflection of our efforts is the release of Abbott's 2020 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report, which shares updates on our workplace representation and culture, along with examples of our partnerships to advance health equity in communities. You'll also find stories from our employees around the world offering a snapshot of what diversity means today at Abbott – and details about our aspirations to build the workforce of the future through our 2030 Sustainability Plan targets.

"This report lays out our plans, strategies, and actions to make Abbott the actively inclusive community that we want – and need – it to be," said Robert B. Ford, President and CEO. "These plans will help all of our colleagues reach their full potential; and by addressing health inequities, we will help the people we serve live their fullest lives. Our ultimate goal is an organization in which inclusiveness is a natural state, not an initiative."

Our hope is that this report shares not only our progress on racial equity, but also what we're doing to drive further positive change, both in our company and in society. This next step on Abbott's diversity journey is far from our last. It's not about declaring victory at a finish line. It's about listening, learning and constantly adapting.

We see building a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture as a journey we're all on together.

For more details:

• Abbott's 2020 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report
  
  
• Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Abbott Careers sections
  
  
• A recent overview of our health equity programs in the U.S.