DEI Committee Structure

Charge: DOHG becomes a more inclusive, diverse, and welcoming environment through regular, required educational opportunities.

Subcommittee Co-Leaders: Melanie Hardy and Robby Van Sciver

Subcommittee Members: Lauren Lichten, Jean Luan McColl, Theresa Pringle, Paula Martinez Feduchi

Priorities: 

1. Develop and facilitate cohorts engaging in regular discussions and activities emphasizing principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
2. Organize at least one case conference, seminar, or department rounds per semester on a DEI topic
3. Facilitate a session at the department retreat on a DEI topic

Accomplishments:

1. Department DEI Survey - 99 respondents: 85% indicated DEI trainings are moderately to extremely important
2. DOHG Cohort Survey - 56 individuals interested in Cohort Model of DEI Training
3. 6 cohorts created including undergrads, grad students, postdocs, staff and faculty.  Initial meetings held, 6 monthly meetings being planned.
4. Independent Study Online Canvas DEI Training "course" developed
5. Four department specific DEI related case conference/department grand rounds held 

Charge: Recruit diverse faculty members to the DOHG, as well as faculty members who are devoted champions of diversity. 

Subcommittee Co-Leaders: Victor Corces and David Weinshenker

Subcommittee Members: Samantha Lanjewar & Kate McCann

Priorities:

1. Seminars for promising candidates of diversity - The Steve Warren Early Career Investigator Seminar Series
2. Bringing DEI Awareness to the application and interview process
3. Broadly advertise and increase outreach for hiring position before the application cycle starts

Accomplishments:

1. Six (6) Steve Warren Early Career investigator Seminars were held in 2021 - 2 of these speakers of diversity are scheduled for job interviews
2. Faculty search included DEI-focused advertising
3. Search committee underwent DEI training
4. Implemented DEI criteria for evaluating candidates

Charge: To increase and improve interactions between healthcare professionals (e.g., nurses, clinicians, clinical psychologists) and clinical research teams who have direct contact with patients and research participants.

Core Representatives: Rossana Sanchez Russo & Robin Weems

Subcommittee Members: Laura Davids, Raven Holmes, Keirsa Nimmons, Kimberly Ruan

Priorities:

1. Evaluate current patient survey results to determine if DEI concerns are raised and consider adding DEI questions based on this to patient survey
2. Use this information to disseminate to the clinical team positive and negative interactions reported
3. Develop a protocol to obtain relevant social/environmental barriers to patient care

Charge: Create a culture where each DOHG staff member is an active contributor to the department’s mission; is noticed, heard, valued, and supported, and thrive because this is where they belong.

Subcommittee Co-Leader: Elizabeth Sablon

Subcommittee Members: Janelle Clark, Carmen West

Priorities:

1. Create awareness of DOHG leadership stand on DEI issues and DOHG efforts
2. Empower and equip current and new hires with information on how to access support and/or services related to DEI.
3. Ensuring all staff members work in a culture where they are valued and have access to all available resources for any DEI issues that may arise.
4. Facilitating the process for professional growth

Accomplishments:

1. Welcome video from the Department Chair created
2. Identified all staff members of the DOHG and created an updated listserv for communication
3. Created a DEI-focused Orientation Package for new staff hires, now being included in the onboarding process