Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Emory University’s Division of Physical Therapy Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is a group of faculty and staff working strategically to promote an intentional culture of diversity, inclusivity, and equity for faculty, staff, and students of the Emory DPT program. The mission of the committee is to foster an inclusive environment that reflects the dynamic world and populations around us.

1. Foster an inclusive culture of learning, dialogue and professionalism.
2. Provide recommendations and resources to the educational curricula to build awareness of relevant social, societal, and structural issues in the health of populations.
3. Develop faculty and staff awareness with respect to issues of DEI, and foster a culture of mentorship, and allyship of underrepresented minority learners.
4. Build and assess initiatives for equitable workplace opportunity and professional development for faculty and staff.
5. Provide recommendations for program growth initiatives as they relate to outreach, student admissions, research activities, faculty, and staff recruitment, hiring practices, and retention. 
6. Engage with university and community partners to advise and inform the program about social, cultural, and professional issues and needs.

The Emory DPT Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership and Advocacy (DEILA) Program is a novel program which would teach participants to address these barriers, creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue on topics of justice, compassion, perseverance, equity, leadership and advocacy. The program will have an intentional focus for developing DPT student leaders, providing them with education and opportunities for professional development. The DEILA Program is a 12-month program consisting of monthly sessions combining educational content with structured small group discussions facilitated by faculty, staff, guest-speakers and student leaders. The program is open to DPT I students.

The leadership in color program invites minority leaders in the PT profession to the classroom. The leaders share their critical experiences related to their professional formation. Developed by Dr. Peter Sprague, along with DPT students Bridget Ochuko and Eze Otiwu, and support from current DPT student Taylor Brown, the program is designed to meet three objectives, allowing DPT students to identify with leaders in the PT profession, providing a possible avenue for formal mentorship and a “planting of the seeds” that will motivate URM students to become future leaders in the profession.

Affinity Groups and Celebrations

Diversity and Inclusion Week

• Significant increase in representation of URiM DPT applicants. Applicants who identify as Black increased by 77.6% from 2019 to 2023. In 2019, 14.41% of our applicants identified as Black compared to 27.61% in 2023.  
• Significant increase in URiM student matriculations: The number of Black student matriculation increased by 185.7% from 2019 to 2023. In 2019, 10.15% of our matriculated students were Black, compared to 35.08% in 2023.
• The Division engaged external consultants from the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and the National Association of Black Physical Therapy (NABPT) on admissions procedures and review.
• The Division introduced events focused on the minority applicants (URiM) during interview days and for admitted students who visited the campus. 
• Faculty and staff received education on:
  • Implicit Bias in Healthcare Education Admissions
  • Implicit Bias, Microaggressions
  • Navigating Difficult Conversations and on
  • Creating environments of psychological safety in classroom settings.
• Faculty and staff within the Division of Physical Therapy created a professional development leadership program for students with a focus on DEI objectives, entitled the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Leadership and Advocacy (DEILA) program.
• There is involvement across DPT students, faculty, staff and alumni in DEI & belonging work, inclusive leadership, and health advocacy research.
• Emory University's Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is now designated a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre (US-478), and is leading efforts to enhance the healthcare system in the Bahamas, advancing Emory's commitment to global health rehabilitation initiatives. The WHO Collaborating Centre is the first at Emory and marks a significant milestone in the department's dedication to pioneering research and practices that enhance rehabilitative services on a global scale. DPT faculty Sara Pullen, DPT, MPH, CHES, serves as the Center Director.
• Press release on Emory University’s first WHO Collaborating Center.
• The Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation (JHR), an Emory-based journal, developed by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sarah Blanton, designated the JHR Diversity, Equity Inclusion and Humanism award in 2021. The award grants $500 to recipients to support resources and opportunities for professional development at the intersecting space of the Humanities and DEI efforts. Three Emory graduates have received the award 2021.

• Emory University’s anti-discrimination policy 
• SOM Diversity Policy
• Emory University Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Actionable Education Initiative: A toolkit with information and resources on the Office of Equity and Inclusion’s four strategic priorities: anti-racism, implicit bias education, bystander to upstander training and history.
• DEIRA Curriculum: A webpage with information on the SOM Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Racial Advocacy (DEIRA) curriculum thread. Also includes a link for current learners to report bias in the curriculum.
• DEI Video Archive: An archive of recordings from previous DEI-related events.
• Office of Multicultural Affairs