A Message from DOM Vice Chair for Culture and Diversity, Professor Monica Baskin, PhD
As we open dialogues to explore issues of social justice in our institution, the Department of Medicine is fully committed to not only identify problems, but also to combine our intellectual and emotional capital to resolve them. This initiative needs diverse voices from across the department to join me in strategic planning to ensure our vision of a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone.
We are talking.
Over the past few weeks DOM leaders, faculty, staff and trainees have been engaged in public and private discussions about the devastating impacts of systematic racism on our employees, trainees, patients, research participants and larger society.
We are thinking.
Many have also engaged in self-study about our national and local Black history. Others have committed to exploring how privilege, social/advantage and/or beliefs may lead others to perceive that our Department is not welcoming or supportive of them.
We are persevering.
When I took on this leadership role, I set forth this vision for our Department:
All employees, regardless of ethnicity, gender, terminal degree, division, faculty rank, or other affiliation, feel respected, valued, included, and acknowledged for their unique contributions to the DOM mission and vision.
To achieve this vision, we must not only continue the hard work of introspection and dialogue, we must also make measurable progress toward explicit goals. Our actions must speak as loud as our words.
WE WILL DO BETTER!
DOM will convene a time-limited working group to draft the DOM strategic plan for enhancing our culture to reflect the above vision.
Time requirement. The group will meet in just three (3) one-hour sessions over a 6-8 week period starting after the July 4 holiday.
Desired outcome. A draft plan with metrics to be shared with the DOM Chair’s Council, and subsequently with the entire DOM community for comment. The plan will be finalized and presented for adoption by early Fall.