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Diversity and Inclusion

Doctors walking

The University of Illinois Chicago’s Department of Medicine stresses that diversity drives innovation and promotes health equity. Our mission is to advance the diversity and inclusion of faculty and trainees through education, advocacy, scholarly activities, mentorship, and networking.

Celebrating Black History Month Heading link

The Department of Medicine Inclusion Council Celebrates Black History Month. We join the country in celebrating the achievements by African Americans and the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. In honoring African American culture and accomplishments, we celebrate the achievements of black physicians as trailblazers, history makers and barrier breakers.

Diversity Videos and Resources Heading link

The Department of Medicine Inclusion Council (DOMIC) plans and hosts lectures reflective of our care providers and the communities we serve. The Culturally Sensitive Care and Inclusion Series presentations continue to elevate DOMIC’s presence and provide opportunities for ongoing education, dialogue, and action around topics of diversity, health disparities, racism, women, LGBTQIA+, and more, continues to reach a broader audience. DOMIC continues its work in developing ways to engage and educate, receive feedback and implement solutions.

Our Initiatives Heading link

Make a Contribution Heading link

Persistent shortfalls in diversity at every level exist in medicine. To make lasting changes, we need your help. Your financial contribution will help us increase leadership and medical science opportunities to diverse trainees, faculty, and scientists. Our goal is to improve inequities in access to care, education, and scientific discovery. With your help, we will continue to address the gaps in every stage of academia and career development. We will champion efforts across the department of medicine for the benefit of underrepresented minorities in academia.

Coordinator Heading link

Executive Advisory Committee Members Heading link

Paula G. Allen-Meares, PhD
Maximo O. Brito, MD, MPH
Jorge Cavero, MD
Geri Donenberg, PhD
Ramon Garcia, MD

Olga Garcia-Bedoya, MD
Jorge Girotti, PhD
Patrick Godwin, MD, MBA
George Kondos, MD
Fred A. Zar, MD

Inclusion Council Committee Members Heading link

Waddah Alrefai, MD
Ashley Binder, MD
Michael Charles, MD
Cheryl Conner, MD
Tirsa Marien Ferrer Marrero, MD
James Flamm, M.Mgt.
Colin Gallagher, MD

Anna Gramelspacher, MD, MA
Shikha Jain, MD
Rachael King, MD
Claudia Lora, MD
Ana Mauro, MD
Alfredo Mena Lora, MD, FACP
Sarah Messmer, MD

Adam Mikolajczyk, MD, FACP
Keith Naylor, MD
Charles Peterson
Anne Polick, MD
Claire Shin, MD
Stephanie Toth-Manikowski, MD, MHS
Andrew Trotter, MD, MPH

Impact Heading link

Recruitment Activities

The DITF actively participates at national meetings of the Latino Medical Student Association: (LMSA) and the Student National Medical Association (SNMA): These organizations are the largest national meetings for students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. The Department of Medicine faculty serve on a continuous basis as speakers in these meetings as a way to donate resources to these organizations committed to improving the health of underserved communities through increasing the pipeline for a more diverse and inclusive medical field.

Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) residency/applicant mixers: We host mixers during recruitment season to answer questions about our program’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Office of Health Literacy-Cross Cultural Training

Starting in January of 2016, the UIC College of Medicine’s Office of Health Literacy, has been offering the course “Introduction to Health Disparities, Health Literacy, and Cultural Competence”. Approximately more than 200 individuals registered for the January, March and October sessions. These individuals come from 11 colleges across the university and included students, faculty, residents, fellows, and health professionals. Topics covered during the course include defining Health Disparities, Health Equity, the Social Determinants Of Health, conceptual models for the aforementioned, health disparities in managed care, the definition of and prevalence of health literacy, core ideas from health literacy research, screening, assessment, and tips for the medical encounter; definition and conceptual models for cultural competence, and strategies for becoming culturally competent and communicating with diverse populations.

Resources

Training Future Leaders Heading link

  1. The Urban Global Medicine Program in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago provides educational, teaching and research activities domestically and globally to UIC students, residents, fellows and faculty. Urban Global Medicine has a strong focus on public health with the underlying goal of addressing and eliminating health disparities in underserved communities. In addition, the Urban Global Medicine Program facilitates exchanges of trainees and students between UIC and international institutions.