The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits public institutions that receive federal funds from discriminating on the premise of disability.

1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed requiring public schools with federal funding to provide equal education and access for disabled children.

1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guaranteeing access to and prohibits discrimination against individuals with physical or mental disabilities.

2001, Congress created the Office of Disability Employment Policy within the Department of Labor

UPCOMING DIVERSITY TOWN HALL

Topic: “Wellbeing Reflections”

Date: Thursday, October 7, 2021

Time: 12:00p-1:00p

Location: Join Here Via Zoom

A few years ago, Dr. Nina Jain recognized a need.

A pediatric endocrinologist at UNC Children’s Hospital, she was starting to see patients with gender dysphoria and other concerns regarding gender identity coming in and asking for care.

“As an endocrinologist, I had never been trained in gender-affirming care,” Jain said. “But I was starting to see that patient need and recognized that there weren’t a lot of providers able to meet those needs.”

Jain had the background to understand the medicine behind the needed care and the willingness to do something about it. She consulted her colleagues at Duke Health and attended a training conference sponsored by Harvard University and Fenway Health. And, as luck would have it, Dr. Martha Perry came to Carolina just in time to help move things along.

Perry completed adolescent medicine training at Boston Children’s Hospital and a fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco — one of the first centers for gender-affirming care — before joining UNC Children’s as a general pediatrician and adolescent specialist. Shortly after her arrival, she and Jain helped start the Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic for Gender Wellness at UNC Children’s.

The clinic is approaching its fourth anniversary this October. Since its launch in 2017, Jain and Perry — and a multidisciplinary team that includes specialists from pediatric endocrinology, social work, pediatric psychology and psychiatry — have provided gender-affirming care to more than 250 patients in the pediatric and young adult population. Read the full article here.

Written by: Julie van Ongevalle Executive Vice President, Consumer Healthcare, Sanofi

With the psychological impact of the pandemic likely to linger for years, self-care is not a luxury but a public health necessity. Focusing on mental wellness is a collective social responsibility. As third and fourth waves of COVID-19 surge in some parts of the world, highly vaccinated countries are cautiously reopening, breathing more freely, hopeful in early indications that inoculation will keep virus and variants under control. As we look ahead, we must also find solutions to supporting and improving mental health.

During the pandemic, nearly half of US adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, a figure that has been largely consistent, up from one in 10 who reported these symptoms from January to June 2019. In France, cases of depression doubled. We can see similar mental health concerns growing worldwide. It’s disproportionately affecting young adults, people of color and essential workers, even people without prior mental health disorders. Lockdowns have also limited access to mental health services, creating backlogs in care. Not to mention the remote working lifestyle we have been in for more than a year now, which often creates feeling of being disconnected from colleagues, even when connected technologically to them. Read the full article.

 For most children, the game Operation was just for fun. For Kanika Bowen-Jallow, M.D., a pediatric surgeon at Cook Children’s, the game sparked a passion that would lead to a career and a distinct honor.

“I loved the game,” Dr. Bowen-Jallow recalled. “I would also play with my doctor kit, and listen to my parents' heartbeats with the stethoscope and take their temperature with my tiny thermometer.”

Just one month into her career at Cook Children’s, Dr. Bowen-Jallow was recently recognized by the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) as the 9th Black female pediatric surgeon in the U.S.

"When the Benjy Brooks committee informed me I’d be recognized for my contributions, I was on cloud nine," Dr. Bowen-Jallow recalled. "When APSA released the recognition to their social media account, it was a wonderful day for everyone to see all of my hard work."

Dr. Benjy Brooks was the first female pediatric surgeon from Texas. Dr. Bowen-Jallow identifies with Brooks' roots and was grateful to receive recognition in her honor. She says credits the recognition to hard work and perseverance.

Dr. Bowen-Jallow attained her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and earned a medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

"I wanted to be a cardiothoracic surgeon and then I desired to be a neurosurgeon," Dr. Bowen-Jallow remembered. "Right before I decided to go into pediatric surgery, I wanted to be a plastic surgeon."

She said becoming a pediatric surgeon was an accident, but it was the best accident that could've happened. She also believes it was worth enduring all 17 years of higher education.

"I'd committed to doing plastic surgery and was lining up interviews," she said. "As I signed up for my acting internship (AI), I wanted to do general surgery and was informed there were no more spots available. My only option was pediatric surgery, and within three days I'd changed my career path. I knew pediatric surgery was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life."

"Working with children is instant gratification," Dr. Bowen-Jallow explained. "If you perform a good operation, perfect your technique and pay attention to detail. Children will recover well."

Dr. Bowen-Jallow also expresses her love for children and admires their resiliency. She enjoys seeing children recover and giving parents peace of mind after an operation.

"It fuels my soul, knowing I’m doing what I’ve been called to do," she said.

Dr. Bowen-Jallow performs surgery on all things from the neck to the pelvis, excluding heart surgery. She also focuses on gastrointestinal surgery and trauma. In her practice, she enjoys researching pediatric health disparities and pediatric obesity. Read More

Summary: Diversity and Inclusion doesn't have to be hard, complicated, and full of shame/guilt to be effective in our lives! What if we are inspired to focus on how to have meaningful progress instead of focusing on the things we are not doing well? In Justin’s decade-plus Human Resources work with clients from the Fortune 500 to fourth graders, he has learned that another approach to this critical conversation allows the reader not to be condemned but committed to real growth. This book is for Human Resources and the everyday person who wants to build real relationships with others (including those who are different). 

Diversity and Inclusion is not just something you have to do, but rather who you chose to be! In this book, Justin takes a vulnerable approach to tackle tough topics in compassionate ways, all while inspiring deep reflection. If you want to learn, grow, and make meaningful change, this book is for you no matter where you are on the journey. Walk with Justin as he gets to the heart of the conversation with his relevant stories, practical examples, and helpful strategies to make diversity and inclusion a part of our everyday lives! To be clear, diversity and inclusion is not a hand-holding exercise where we will always agree. Rather, it is when we can disagree yet still respect each other. It is when we can vehemently disagree with others' ideology and yet still passionately pursue their HUMANITY! Everyone is invited to this conversation.

October 5 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

The Carolina Asia Center is organizing a panel to discuss the key roles that members of the LGBTQ+ community have in today's society. As they exhibit strength in society and the workplace, they face certain challenges in their daily lives because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. This panel will discuss the pride in the LGBTQ+ community and the opportunities that come with it as students pursue their future careers, along with ways to tackle the obstacles that they…

 

October 5 @ 6:30 pm

Join the LGBTQ Center’s peer support/discussion group for campus and community members that identify as transgender, genderqueer, or gender-questioning. This space is meant to provide community and connection amongst folks on the basis of gender identity. All students, staff, faculty, community members with these identities are welcome. Contact the Facilitator for meeting details: Anole Halper (they/them), anole.halper@gmail.com

October 11 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

October 11 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

The LGBTQ Center will be in the pit from 11a-1p. Come take a picture with the famous rainbow door!

October 12 @ 5:30 pm

"Queers Read This!" A Call To Action. Presented by Dr. Terri Phoenix. Register for zoom link.

October 13 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Join the LGBTQ Center as we celebrate National Coming Out Week! This Center After Dark will be painting small canvases with pride flags or whatever you want to express your LGBTQ identities. All LGBTQ people are welcome to attend, as well as their affirming loved ones. This event will be indoors and masks will be required.

October 14 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

QGAPS Social is a bi-monthly gathering for LGBTQIA+ graduate and professional students. It's a chance for folks to connect, come together, and build community. Friends and family are welcome to join! If you have any questions or accessibility needs, please contact Jay Jayaraman, Graduate and Professional Student Program Coordinator, at meerajay@email.unc.edu.

The Minority Leaders Employee Resource Groups strives to ignite career development opportunities for minority colleagues by leveraging a diverse and inclusive workforce to improve satisfaction of teammates and patients.

 Mission

To build and leverage pathways for professional development of colleagues through education, training, and visibility.

Next Planning Meeting: Thursday, October 14, 2021 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Click here to register.

  

October 18 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

This virtual lecture will explore the ways that African-American women have managed their anxiety throughout history. As this discussion will focus on the historical context of African-American wellness, it will include the history of medicine, race and health. In specific, it will dive into the therapeutic treatments of nervousness, insomnia and indigestion. The discussion will be led by Carrie Street, a PhD candidate at the University of California San Diego, who specializes in the United States history of health, gender…….Find out more »

 

October 20 @ 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute is pleased to welcome Sarabeth Broder-Fingert, MD, MPH, as the first speaker in our 2021-2022 distinguished speaker series, Examining Equity and Diversity in the Field of Developmental Disabilities. Equity in Autism Diagnosis and Treatment: What Will It Take? In this talk, Dr. Broder-Fingert will discuss the history of autism diagnosis and ongoing efforts to improve the diagnostic process and treatment as evaluated through a health equity lens. Dr. Broder-Fingert is a pediatrician…Find out more »

Stuart Gold, MD - Committee Chair

Alessandra Angelino, MD

Benny Joyner, MD

Christian Lawrence, MD

Denita Moore

Gretter Benitez, MD

Jennifer Gutierrez-Wu, MD

Jennifer McElroy

Kenya McNeal-Trice, MD

Martha Perry, MD

Nina Jain, MD

Robin Howard

Steven Weinberg, MD

Zachary Pettigrew, MD