SOM Hosts Second Annual Diversity and Inclusion Conference

The School of Medicine’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted its Second Annual Diversity and Inclusion Conference on September 19. This year’s theme was “Considering Diversity in Equitable Health Care.” Camille A. Clare, M.D., M.P.H. ’11, second from right, interim associate dean of diversity and inclusion for the School of Medicine, welcomed participants to the meeting.  Highlights of the conference included opening remarks by D. Douglas Miller, M.D., C.M., M.B.A., left, dean of the School of Medicine, and a discussion of the best practices for diversity in an academic medical school and health system led by Gary Butts, M.D., second from left, chief diversity and inclusion officer, Mount Sinai Health Systemand dean of diversity programs, policy and community affairs for the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Butts explained the evolution, design and priority focus areas of a model academic health system diversity program, and expressed that the approach to diversity in such systems is not an overnight process, but requires the commitment of several stakeholders. View the SOM Second Annual Diversity and Inclusion Conference photo gallery here.

K. Torian Easterling, M.D., assistant commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Brooklyn District Public Health Office,reviewed the “Altering the Course” document of the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) on Black Males in Medicine and the National Medical Association’s efforts on the local level to address the crisis of the low numbers of black male matriculates in medical schools. He also examined how a diverse workforce can best address social determinants of health, leading to equitable health care. Conference participants also had the opportunity to engage in a workforce training exercise, conducted by Deborah Viola, M.B.A., Ph.D., vice president, data management and analytics,Westchester Medical Center Health Performing Provider System (WMCHealth PPS). Bonnie Reyna, M.P.H., director, Community Workforce Transformation, WMCHealth PPS, addressed narrative humility and how to speak to patients from a cultural perspective. Victor T. Madubuko, right, NYMC’s diversity and inclusion officer, concluded with approaches that the NYMC community can use to apply these concepts.