From Being to Belonging
Hosted in May 2024, the third annual Diversity and Inclusion Week was a vibrant celebration of unity, progress and community. Hosted by the Office of Equity and Inclusion and themed “From Being to Belonging,” the week engaged over 900 participants from across the SOM. It served as a dynamic platform for engaging in profound conversations, reflecting on both achievements and challenges and exploring avenues to nurture a more inclusive campus environment. Sheryl Heron (emergency medicine), Associate Dean of Community Engagement, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, reflected on this year’s theme, remarking, “From Being to Belonging, never a more important time such as this to build community in the SOM and beyond. We do this together.”
The week started with an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Amaka Eneanya, a nephrologist by training and current Chief Transformation Officer at Emory Healthcare. Her talk, titled Finding Your Purpose: Lessons Learned from Transformation in Healthcare, walked attendees through a heartfelt discussion centered on her family history of kidney disease, which inspired her work in transforming the field of nephrology. She then walked attendees through lessons learned during that process and how she currently applies those transformation initiatives at Emory Healthcare.
The Taste of GME event, a partnership between the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the GME DEI Taskforce, was a unique potluck event that celebrated cultural diversity by allowing colleagues to delve into the diverse foods of other countries, cultures and faiths. The event provided a flavorful glimpse into the vibrant mosaic of our community. Attendees enjoyed foods from Jamaica, Cuba and China – prepared by their colleagues.
Next, artistry took center stage with the art gallery’s opening featuring submissions from the SOM community. The gallery offered a visual testament to the diverse perspectives and talents flourishing within the School of Medicine, like an oil painting from assistant professor Sejal Tamakuwala (gynecology and obstetrics) titled “The Unbearable Lightness of Pregnancy” featuring whisps of blue and green floating around a bright yellow, round center making out a pregnant silhouette.
Health Equity Day, led by the Department of Medicine’s RYSE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, ignited conversations surrounding systemic health disparities across racial, ethnic, cultural and social groups. The more than 180 attendees shared compelling new findings, facilitated scientific exchange and identified opportunities for collaboration during the virtual conference. In addition, awards were presented for outstanding scientific citation; clinical quality; community, advocacy and policy; diversity, equity and inclusion professional development; education and research.
The week continued with a collaboration with Emory Healthcare, where partners discussed the importance of promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in healthcare, sharing personal experiences and initiatives to foster a safe and inclusive environment for all employees and patients. The panel highlighted the challenges and opportunities in the DEI space within healthcare, emphasizing the need for better understanding and empathy and the potential for collaboration and partnership across different roles and institutions. Lastly, they discussed strategies to improve healthcare access in rural Georgia, the issue of food insecurity among rural patients and the need for ongoing discussions, cultural assessment and education to enhance diversity and inclusion within the organization.
The truth and racial healing session was integral to the week’s success, which provided a platform for introspection and dialogue. This session, led by Sharon Stroye, Director of Emory’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Initiative, propelled attendees towards a collective commitment to respect and humanity. Conversations grappled with the pivotal question: “How do we transition from merely existing to truly belonging?” The answers lie within our collective resolve and action.
An inaugural session on spiritual and interfaith life provided a nurturing space for colleagues to connect beyond professional boundaries. Hosted by various spiritual and religious organizations within Emory, the session underscored the power of unity amidst diversity.
The departmental DEI session showcased exemplary DEI initiatives from the departments of medicine, psychiatry and behavioral sciences and family and preventive medicine, alongside affinity groups and distinguished alumni. These leaders spotlighted innovative approaches to advancing DEI and justice and actionable steps towards a more inclusive future, highlighting the school’s commitment to advancing this work. Diversity and Inclusion Week planning committee co-chair Richard Castillo (radiation oncology) helped organize the session and remarked, “It was so inspiring and empowering to see such amazing figures describing just some of the transformative efforts underway within the SOM, meaningfully advancing us all along this journey from being to belonging.”
The festivities culminated in a lively Block Party by the Lawley Fountain, providing an engaging platform for faculty, learners, staff and affinity groups to unite, fostering camaraderie and solidarity. Diversity and Inclusion Week planning committee co-chair Michele Sumler (anesthesiology) reflected on the event, remarking, “The Block party was a major highlight of the week. Diversity was truly on display as various food trucks served a wide variety of cuisines. In addition, a local mariachi band, with an impromptu serenade from a SOM leader in Spanish, along with our very own Khaalisha Ajala (medicine) or DJ Doc Bintu, served as entertainment. It was a great way to come together as a community to celebrate diversity and have some fun.” In the spirit of diversity, 73% of vendors used during Diversity and Inclusion Week events, many of which participated in the Block Party, were minority-owned, local businesses.
Dean Wong’s closing keynote offered reflections on the week’s events. She noted, "Congratulations to the planning committee and those who were able to participate in a great Diversity and Inclusion Week. The week was filled with education, engagement and reflection. In my reflections, every day should be Diversity and Inclusion Week in the SOM."
She went on to remind us that the collective efforts across our school have uniquely positioned Emory School of Medicine as a DEI leader. During her keynote, she answered audience questions related to collaboration with Emory Healthcare, plans for ensuring leadership positions reflect the diverse make up of our faculty body, how everyone in the SOM can champion DEI and more. Dean Wong’s closing remarks encapsulated the essence of Diversity and Inclusion Week, emphasizing the transformative power of unity and action.
The ensuing discussion on DEI across Woodruff Health Sciences underscored the imperative of embedding diversity, equity and inclusion principles into every facet of our work. Diversity leaders from the School of Medicine, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory Healthcare and Winship Cancer Institute shared initiatives and progress in their respective spaces.
As the week drew to a close, attendees carried forth the spirit of belonging, armed with newfound insights and connections. Diversity and Inclusion Week is a testament to the SOM’s unwavering commitment to fostering a campus where every individual exists and truly belongs.
