Our memo brings together information that reflects the current thinking on how to progress Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the workplace. Each month it is bursting with highlights for reflection and inspiration. Let us continue to work together to help influence social change, to achieve a safer and fairer society.
~The Pediatrics Diversity Committee
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MONTH AWARENESS
July, French-American Heritage Month, is an active month with many special days to remember.
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July 4th is Filipino-American Independence Day
- July 9th is the Martyrdom of the Bab, which marks the execution of one of the founders of the Bhai Faith in Persia in 1850.
- July 11th is World Population Day, founded by the United Nation, commemorating the world population reaching five billion. The purpose of this day is to raise consciousness about global population growth and issues such as family planning, health and well-being of women and girls, poverty, environmental issues and human rights.
- July 26th marks the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 by President George W. Bush. The ADA prohibits discrimination in all employment practices for both physical and mental disabilities.
- July 29/30 is the Jewish Holiday of Tish B’av – a day of mourning, fasting and remembrance of the destruction of the First (586 BCE) and Second (70 CE) Temples in Jerusalem.
Of course July 4th also commemorates the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America in 1776. The holiday celebrates American rights and freedoms. The Declaration of Independence is the essence of the principles on which our nation was founded, and these principles apply to all. In the Lincoln-Douglas Debates in 1858, Lincoln stated “There is no reason in the world why the Negro is not entitled to all the natural rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
These principals are important to remember in our current tumultuous times. It is time we go back to the basics, that we are all created equal and all should have the same rights and privileges. Whether it is the right to use the restroom of the gender with which we identify. Whether it is the right to receive health care in a language in which we understand. Whether it is the right to practice our religious beliefs freely and without harassment. Whether it is the right to have the same opportunities in life and in our workplace for advancement and promotion, and in academic medicine, equal opportunities for tenure. It is time to support all people of color in our own backyard, our place of work, UNC.
On Sunday July 4th, we encourage you to take 30 minutes of silence upon awakening to think about how we as individuals and we as members of the Department of Pediatrics, in the School of Medicine, at UNC-Chapel Hill can make our environment better for all. It is not acceptable to be silent. It is not acceptable to be complacent. We must use our Voice and our Actions to support all underrepresented minorities and insist that everyone is treated equally and has the same rights, opportunities and capabilities of advancement as anyone else.
Martin Luther King Jr: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
From Your Pediatric Diversity Committee
*Please note that this memo reflects the feelings and thoughts of your Diversity Committee. It is not meant to capture all the feelings within our Department. We openly recognize all may not agree. We do hope these memos help educate all of us about diversity issues and in addition invoke thoughtful and courteous discussion and debate*
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UPCOMING DIVERSITY TOWN HALL
Topic: “Cultural Intelligence” led by Zach Pettigrew, MD
Date: Thursday, August 5, 2021
Time: 12:00p-1:00p
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Website
Introducing the new Pediatrics Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website where you can find important resources and calendar events, as well as past Diversity newsletters. Check it out!
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Diversity in Healthcare and The Importance of Representation
In the United States today, there is a persistent lack of diversity among healthcare professionals. It’s critical that healthcare organizations improve diversity to ensure that people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and genders are represented in the healthcare workforce. Doing so has a positive impact not only on the organization itself, but also on the individual patients and wider communities.
This post discusses the importance of diversity in healthcare and highlights the key benefits of increased representation for both providers and patients.
How Diverse Is Healthcare Today?
Most active physicians today are white men and more nursing and rehabilitative positions are held by women—in turn, people of color are still vastly underrepresented in these areas. It’s important for employers to understand current healthcare demographics and the barriers and challenges faced by women, people of color, and LGBTQ people in the healthcare workforce, which we’ll cover more below. Read the full article here.
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Dr. Rachel L. Levine serves as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), after being nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2021. As Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Rachel Levine fights every day to improve the health and well-being of all Americans. She’s working to help our nation overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and build a stronger foundation for a healthier future - one in which every American can attain their full health potential.
After graduating from Harvard College and Tulane University School of Medicine, Dr. Levine completed her training in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City. As a physician, she focused on the intersection between mental and physical health, often treating children, adolescents, and young adults. Dr. Levine was a Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the Penn State College of Medicine. Her previous posts included: Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs for the Department of Pediatrics, and Chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and Eating Disorders at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Click here to read the full article.
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Summary: These self-perceptions are challenged by leading psychologists Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald as they explore the hidden biases we all carry from a lifetime of exposure to cultural attitudes about age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, social class, sexuality, disability status, and nationality.
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July 6, 2021
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm via Zoom
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.
This not meant to be an educational space where people have to explain their identities. Cisgender allies are welcome to attend educational programs.
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Safe Zone CE: Queer – July 28, 2921
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM via Zoom. Register by 7/26.
Safe Zone Continuing Education: Queer is a two-hour training designed to explore the history and multiple meanings of the word "queer." Standard Safe Zone and Health Care Safe Zone trainings are equivalent a prerequisites for this training.
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Reoccuring Events/Resources:
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Underrepresented in Medicine Community List
The purpose of the Underrepresented in Medicine Community List is to allow students, staff, residents, and faculty of underrepresented identities that are affiliated with the UNC School of Medicine to find community, mentorship, and representation. Such identities include those belonging to non-dominant religions, races or ethnicities, and sexualities or gender identities.
This community is open and accessible to anyone with a UNC Onyen and password, including current staff, faculty, students, residents, and fellows.
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July Dates to Note
Other important dates can be found on the
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French-American Heritage Month (US): This month honors, celebrates, and pays tribute to the contributions of French-Americans in the US. |
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July 5 – 12 - National Aboriginals and Islanders Day Observance Week (Aus): This week honors, celebrates, and pays tribute to the contributions of Aborignal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples. |
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July 26 - Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Day: On this day, the United States government signed the act that prohibited any discrimination on account of disabilities, and promoted equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities. |
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July 30 - International Friendship Day: Promoted by the United Nations, this day promoted friendship among people from diverse backgrounds. |
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Dates to Note is a compilation intended to include, but is not all-inclusive, notable information from the internet, Diversity Best Practices, 2021 Diversity Holiday Calendar, and other sources). |
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Stuart Gold, MD - Committee Chair |
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Alessandra Angelino, MD
Benny Joyner, MD
Christian Lawrence, MD
Denita Moore
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Jennifer Gutierrez-Wu, MD
Jennifer McElroy
Kenya McNeal-Trice, MD
Martha Perry, MD
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Nina Jain, MD
Robin Howard
Steven Weinberg, MD
Zachary Pettigrew, MD
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