The DEI Team
DEI Committee Leadership and Support
DEI Co-Chair Kate McCann provides oversight for the four DEI sub-committees:
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DEI Training and Awareness
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Faculty Recruitment, Retention & Advancement
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Improved Interactions
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Staff Recruitment, Retention & Recognition
DEI Training and Awareness
Charge: DOHG becomes a more inclusive, diverse, and welcoming environment through regular, required educational opportunities.
Subcommittee Co-Leaders: Melanie Hardy and Bren Becker
Subcommittee Members: Ashia Daniels, Quinn Eastman, Lauren Lichten, Jean Luan McColl, Theresa Pringle,
Priorities:
- Develop and facilitate cohorts engaging in regular discussions and activities emphasizing principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Organize at least one case conference, seminar, or department rounds per semester on a DEI topic
- Facilitate a session at the department retreat on a DEI topic
Accomplishments:
- Department DEI Survey - 99 respondents: 85% indicated DEI trainings are moderately to extremely important
- DOHG Cohort Survey - 56 individuals interested in Cohort Model of DEI Training
- 6 cohorts created including undergrads, grad students, postdocs, staff and faculty. Initial meetings held, 6 monthly meetings being planned.
- Independent Study Online Canvas DEI Training "course" developed
- Four department specific DEI related case conference/department grand rounds held
Faculty Recruitment, Retention & Advancement
Charge: Recruit diverse faculty members to the DOHG, as well as faculty members who are devoted champions of diversity.
Subcommittee Lead: Samantha Lanjewar
Subcommittee Members: Steven Sloan, David Weinshenker
Priorities:
- Seminars for promising candidates of diversity - The Steve Warren Early Career Investigator Seminar Series
- Bringing DEI Awareness to the application and interview process
- Broadly advertise and increase outreach for hiring position before the application cycle starts
Accomplishments:
- Six (6) Steve Warren Early Career investigator Seminars were held in 2021 - 2 of these speakers of diversity are scheduled for job interviews
- Faculty search included DEI-focused advertising
- Search committee underwent DEI training
- Implemented DEI criteria for evaluating candidates
Improved Interactions
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.
Subcommittee Lead: Rossana Sanchez Russo
Subcommittee Member: Tamario Lenoir
Priorities:
- Evaluate current patient survey results to determine if DEI concerns are raised and consider adding DEI questions based on this to patient survey
- Use this information to disseminate to the clinical team positive and negative interactions reported
- Develop a protocol to obtain relevant social/environmental barriers to patient care
Staff Recruitment, Retention & Recognition
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 Lead: Elizabeth Sablon
Subcommittee Members: Tamario Lenoir, Taylor Pio
Priorities:
- Create awareness of DOHG leadership stand on DEI issues and DOHG efforts
- Empower and equip current and new hires with information on how to access support and/or services related to DEI.
- 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.
- Facilitating the process for professional growth
Accomplishments:
- Welcome video from the Department Chair created
- Identified all staff members of the DOHG and created an updated listserv for communication
- Created a DEI-focused Orientation Package for new staff hires, now being included in the onboarding process