March 8, 2005, St. Louis--SSM Health Care (SSMHC) will receive the Workplace Diversity Award from the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute.  SSMHC will receive the award at the Institute's annual award dinner March 17.  The award honors organizations for exceptional commitment to diversity.       "I am very proud that SSM Health Care is being honored with such a prestigious award," said Sr. Mary Jean Ryan, FSM, SSMHC President/CEO.  "Diversity is not merely a slogan or a program here at SSMHC; it is part of a tradition of respect for the uniqueness of every person that began in 1872 when our first sisters arrived here in St. Louis."       ADL's A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute recognized SSMHC for its focused commitment to diversity at all levels of the organization; its emphasis on diversity among the professional, managerial and executive ranks; and its use of minority vendors.       Past recipients include Bank of America, Anheuser Busch, Southwestern Bell, Edward Jones, MasterCard International, Ameren and The Centric Group.       Sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary and based in St. Louis, MO, SSM Health Care is one of the largest Catholic systems in the country and is the first health care recipient of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, the nation's premier award for performance excellence and quality achievement.       The system owns, operates and is affiliated with 20 acute care hospitals and three nursing homes in four states:  Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.       For copies of news releases and additional information about SSM Health Care, please visit SSMHC's web site at www.ssmhc.com.