Residency Program Diversity and Inclusion
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION Heading link
Cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity abound across our campus. We serve a large, diverse patient population who come from all over the United States and the world, providing us with a variety of medical illnesses and a culturally rich education. The University of Illinois College of Medicine is one of the most diverse medical schools in the country ranking number 1 in Latinx graduates and number 5 in African American graduates. Our Internal Medicine Residency has more than twice the national average of underrepresented physician trainees.
The Department of Medicine stresses that diversity drives innovation and promotes health equity. Learn about how Dr. Natalie Reizine, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois Cancer Center, and other UIC researchers are partnering with community advocates to develop treatments to improve health outcomes for all populations. In early 2024, the University of Illinois received an $11 million, six-year grant from the National Institutes of Health dedicated to maternal health research to reduce health inequities in maternal morbidity and mortality for Black women. UI Health remains focused on delivering high-quality care and training that promotes better and more equitable maternal health outcomes for Black women and families. To fulfill this mission, Dr. Rachel Caskey, Earl M. Bane Professor and Head, UIC Department of Medicine; U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood; UIC Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin announced the new Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence.
With the help of the Department of Medicine Inclusion Council, our mission is to advance the diversity and inclusion of faculty and trainees through education, advocacy, scholarly activities, mentorship, and networking. A significant way that our program embraces diversity is supporting a resident-led DEI Council. We also provide funding for our residents to attend the Student National Medical Association, Latino Medical Student Association, or Women in Medicine meetings. .
Contact Us diversitydom@uic.edu
Announcements Heading link
The Department of Medicine Inclusion Council (DOMIC) hosted an Under-Represented in Medicine Virtual Open House on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 7:00PM CST for scheduled applicants. Faculty and residents spoke about our program’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and answered questions from prospective resident applicants.
Resident physicians Chelsea Herbert, Nonye Uche, Jackson Knappen, Joey Lesus, and Susie de la Torre participated in the 2024-2025 American Medical Association and University of Cincinnati Resident Diversity Leadership Program. The program brought together residents from across the country to gain leadership competencies, skill-building, and to create a national network of colleagues for pursuing career advancement in academic medicine, through workshops, conversations with leaders, and communities of practice.
Dr. Kashif Osmani presented his research on “Food Insecurity and Neighborhood Disparities: Correlation with MASLD and Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Rates in Chicago’s Liver Transplant Patients” at The Liver Meeting® 2024 in San Diego, California.
Congratulations to Dr. Chelsea Herbert for receiving the Advancing Racial Equity Award from the University of Illinois’ Office of Diversity, Equity, and Engagement.
Congratulations to Dr. Michelle Nwachukwu for receiving the 2024 ASH Minority Resident Hematology Program Award.
DEI Council and Resident Members Heading link
Our Mission
To foster a diverse and inclusive residency program that supports equitable opportunities and promotes innovation and excellence in healthcare.
Our Vision
To recruit and retain a diverse resident body with a strong commitment to community engagement, outreach, research, and education within the field of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Council Structure: C.O.R.E.
The DEI Council is composed of four dedicated branches: Community Engagement, Outreach and Opportunities, Research, and Education. Each branch focuses on specific aspects of achieving our mission. We work in partnership with the Department of Medicine Inclusion Council (DOMIC) to support our initiatives, provide leadership, mentoring and opportunities across the CORE branches.
Community Engagement
The Community Engagement Branch focuses on creating and sustaining community partnerships. Through local collaboration, this branch will work to bridge healthcare disparities by providing accessible resources and education to underserved populations.
Current projects include:
- Careers and Mentorship in Medicine Program (CAMMP) in collaboration with the Black Cultural Center and UIC’s Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapter.
Outreach & Opportunities
The Outreach & Opportunities Branch focuses on recruitment of diverse residents, enhancing visibility through marketing initiatives, coordinating social events and optimizing opportunities for professional development.
Past and future events: Could add link to photo gallery here, or add in photos underneath bullet points
- Resident and faculty mixer
- Happy hour for interested student applicants
- Student National Medical Association Regional Medical Education Conference
- Narrative in Medicine
- Black History Month Celebration
Research
The Research Branch focuses on advancing DEI-related research initiatives within the residency program. Through these efforts, this branch will promote dissemination of research findings that can influence clinical practices, education, and policy on a broader scale.
Current projects include:
- Annual assessment of the DEI climate within the IMR Program
- Careers and Mentorship in Medicine Program (CAMMP)
Education
The Education Branch focuses on fostering cultural humility through the development of DEI education curriculum.
Spring 2025 lectures:
- Scientific racism: understanding the look of medicine
- UIC and our history in the community
- Disability medicine
- Understanding your bias and how to interrupt it
- LGBTQI+ care
Get Involved
We encourage residents, faculty, and staff to engage with the DEI Council’s initiatives and help build a more inclusive and equitable residency experience.
To learn more or get involved, please contact us at O365-deiinfo@UIC365.onmicrosoft.com
Instagram : @uicimdei
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Healthcare Heading link
UI Health provides exceptional care to (LGBTQIA+) patients and families through our commitment to treating all patients with dignity, respect, and compassion. We take great pride in and accept the responsibility that comes with that commitment. When patients visit LGBTQ.UIHealth.Care, they’ll find listings of all of our inclusive care specialists, services, and dedicated patient navigation. As healthcare equality leaders, we are committed to removing barriers to care for (LGBTQIA+) patients and providing the accessible, affirming healthcare services they need and deserve. The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Care page helps to further our mission to provide respectful, compassionate, personalized care for every patient.
The Department of Medicine Inclusion Council recognizes the contributions of LGBTQIA+ members of the UIC and UI Health communities. Diversity, inclusion, belonging and anti-racist efforts are topics that impact health. We reinforce our commitment to greater inclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals both at UIC as well as in healthcare spaces. The Council encourages you to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community as it relates to healthcare and how you can contribute to making more inclusive spaces. Please view the LGBTQIA+ offerings in our Culturally Sensitive Care series. We also invite you to celebrate the richness of the LGBTQIA+ community through cultural events, celebrations, books, movies, and other educational experiences.
UIC Gender and Sexuality Center Heading link
UIC Safe Zone: UIC is proud to participate in the Safe Zone program. Safe Zone is a training designed to heighten awareness of LGBTQ issues and concerns. Safe Zone is offered regularly and is designed to put a human face on human issues.
Contact oae@uic.edu for future trainings.
Office of Graduate Medical Education Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Heading link
- Claudia Lora, MD
Dean of Graduate Medical Education - Keia Hobbs, MD, FAAFP
Assistant Dean of Graduate Medical Education and Chair, GME Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council
The GME DEI Council hosts gatherings for self-identified URIM’s to socialize after work.
UI Hospital and UICOM Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Heading link
- Gloria Elam, MD, MPH
Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, Office Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Constance Umbles-Sailers, MS
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, University of Illinois College of Medicine - Monica Vela, MD
Director of the Hispanic Center of Excellence and Professor of Medicine - Rani Morrison, FACHE, MS, MSW
Chief Diversity & Community Health Equity Officer & Chair, Committee for Anti-Racism & Equity, Cotis Mitchell, Director, Health Equity, and Jolie Holliman-Douge’, Director, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics