The June 29, 2021 session of Duke Medicine LEADS featured a presentation led by Kathleen Cooney, MD, MACP, "Embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into the Culture, Training, and Healthcare of the Department of Medicine." Cooney was joined by co-presenters, Genzton Hall, MD, PhD, Kimberley Evans, MD, Julius Wilder, MD, PhD, Jane Gagliardi, MD, MHS, FACP, DFAPA, John Duronville, MD, and Daniella Zipkin, MD.
Here are pearls and takeaways from the session:
- The Department’s mission is evolving as we evaluate our work through a new lens, the lens of ending health disparities and promoting diversity and inclusion. There is no quality without equity and this mission belongs to all of us.
- Moments to Movement is an institution-wide stance against systemic racism and injustice inspired by recent societal events. This commitment to becoming actively anti-racist is shown with new committees that have been established under this movement, including Faculty Anti-Racism and Equity Committee (FARE) which aims to instill an anti-racist culture in which diverse and underrepresented faculty will thrive.
- Our new committee, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (DEIAR), has begun to think about impactful and tangible things to embed these principles throughout the department. This includes research and educational subcommittees for short and long term success of URiM resident, fellow, and faculty within the department.
- Minority Recruitment and Retention Committee (MRRC) and Program for Women in Internal Medicine (PWIM) are established to broaden diverse recruitment pool of applicants for house staff and faculty, address unique challenges that URiM and female physician experience, and promote networking and outreach opportunities.
- Civility Champions was initiated in 2018 for restorative justice and these members are trained to support and empower those affected by racism or social injustices. Stepping In 4-Respect is a multi-institutional QI project where individuals are trained on the duty to act when witnessing bias and how to address inequities.
Duke Medicine Learning, Education, and Discussion Series (LEADS) takes place each Tuesday at 12 p.m. Learn more and see schedule of upcoming sessions.
