Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force
Video from UIC Department of Pediatrics DEI Task Force Heading link
Message from UIC Department of Pediatrics DEI Task Force Heading link
We are the Pediatric Residency Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. We are proud of the outstanding educational experience we provide to our residents. We serve as a major referral center providing subspecialty pediatric services to the city and surrounding suburbs, while running one of the busiest general pediatric outpatient centers in Chicago. Our residents care for the full range of pediatric diseases, from simple childhood illnesses to extremely complex, chronic conditions.
Our mission is to train and educate a diverse group of pediatric trainees to provide exceptional care for children in the greater Chicago area in a supportive environment. Through clinical teaching and education focused on research and advocacy, our graduates become leaders in their community, match in competitive fellowship programs, and embark on careers in academic or hospital medicine.
Located on the west side of Chicago, the Children’s Hospital at UI Health is a mission-driven hospital that cares for a broad spectrum of patients, including a vulnerable patient population. UIC and the Children’s Hospital at UI Health are committed to developing and sustaining an environment that focuses on equity, diversity and inclusion among our residents and faculty. Additionally, as pediatricians in Chicago, we work hard to support our patients and families in navigating the challenges that many of them regularly face in their communities— challenges that have only been amplified this year.
Our faculty is comprised of dedicated clinician-educators who teach residents in the clinics, at our state-of-the-art simulation center, at the bedside, and through our robust morning and noon conference series. They are engaged in research to tackle childhood obesity, health disparities for children with asthma, adverse childhood experiences, depression, and so much more. As a resident at UIC, you will have the opportunity to partner with faculty mentors to develop research projects that might bring the change in our city and our communities that we need to see.
Diversity is something that we celebrate here in the Pediatrics Department at UIC. We all come from different places, have a variety of backgrounds, grew up in different family structures, and have various religious beliefs. We are a heterogeneous group that are a variety of ages, sizes and colors with unique interests, career goals, and life responsibilities. It is our differences that make us stronger as a department and allow us collectively to learn from each other and achieve individual growth.
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DEI in Action Heading link
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Celebrating Culture Through Food: Our Diversity Day Tradition
Every year, the UIC Pediatric Residency Program hosts Diversity Day, a special time when we come together to celebrate the vibrant cultures that make our department so unique. It’s all about sharing the things we love—whether it’s a favorite dish, a cherished family tradition, or stories that bring us closer.
During the pandemic, we had to get creative! That’s when the UIC Department of Pediatrics Cookbook was born. Each week, residents, faculty, and staff submitted their favorite recipes, along with a one-liner describing what makes the dish special and a picture of something meaningful to them. These recipes were then shared with the entire department—spreading warmth, culture, and community, one delicious dish at a time.
Want a taste? Check out Dr. Kenan’s famous Mac & Cheese below!
Dr. Kenan's Mac & Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
3 cups uncooked elbow macaroi
6 tbsp salted butter
3 tbsp all purpose flour
3 1/2 cups half & half
2 tsp seasoning salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
16 oz sharp cheddar cheese shredded
8 oz mozzarella cheese shredded
1/2 cup Italian panko bread crumbs (or any bread crumbs)Instructions
- Bring some water to a boil, over high heat.
- Once the water is boiling, add in the 3 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni pasta, and cook until it’s nice and firm, but not overly cooked.
- Next, toss 4 tbsp of salted butter into a large sauce pan, and melt over medium heat.
Once the butter is melted, sprinkle in 3 tbsp of all purpose flour. Whisk the flour with the butter, and make sure that there aren’t any lumps. - Now pour the half & half into the sauce pan, and whisk until smooth.
Let the flour, butter, and half & half mixture cook until it starts to thicken, then reduce the heat to low medium. - Add in 8 oz of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and mix until well incorporated.
Sprinkle the seasoning salt & black pepper in the cheese sauce, and stir. - Place the cooked & drained elbow macaroni pasta into a large bowl, then add in the cheese sauce.
- Fold the macaroni and cheese sauce until everything is well incorporated.
- Grab a 9×13 bake dish, and butter or lightly oil it.
- Combine the remaining shredded sharp cheddar cheese with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Add a layer of the macaroni and cheese at the bottom of the bake dish, then top with a heavy layer of cheese. Repeat
- Melt two tbsp of salted butter, and combine it with the Italian panko bread crumbs.
- Top the creamy macaroni and cheese casserole with the buttery panko bread crumbs.
- Bake in the oven, uncovered, on 350 F for about 25-30 minutes.
Quote
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
– James Baldwin
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging: Pediatric Diversity Week Symposium
Date: June 3, 2024 – June 7, 2024
Time: Noon – 1 pm DailyMonday, June 3, 2024
- Location: UI Health Atrium Conference Room 1021
- Speaker: John Petoskey, JD
- Title: Environmental Justice and Community Health
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
- Location: UI Health Atrium Conference Room 1021
- Speaker: Letitia Fowler, PhD
- Title: Narrative Disruption: Using Stories to Dismantle Inequity in Medicine
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
- Location: UI Health Atrium Conference Room 1020
- Speaker: Patrick Noel
- Title: Narrative Disruption: In the Matter of a Minute: A Talk About Gun Violence
Friday, June 7, 2024
- Location: UI Health Atrium Conference Room 1020
- Speaker: Stephanie Torres, PhD
- Title: “The Invisible Backpack” of Immigrant Stress & Trauma: Working with Immigrant and Refugee Pediatric Populations
