UNMC’s Breakthrough Thinking Conference Series will continue Nov. 23 with presentations on diversity and inclusion that are open to all UNMC faculty, staff and students.
Ruth Shim, MD, University of California, Davis, and Nwando Olayiwola, MD, The Ohio State University, will present during the virtual event, which will begin at 10 a.m. and run through noon. (Access the event through Zoom).
Dr. Shim will present “Dismantling Structural Racism in Medicine: Challenges and Opportunities.” She is the Luke & Grace Kim Professor in Cultural Psychiatry in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. She also is professor of clinical psychiatry, director of cultural psychiatry, and chair of the Vice Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Faculty Excellence in Diversity at UC Davis Health.
Dr. Olayiwola will present “Moving From Anger to Action: Making Anti-Racism a Core Value in Academic Medicine.” She is chair and professor in the department of family and community medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, where she also is the founding director of the Center for Primary Care Innovation and Transformation, chief of family health services and co-chair of the OSU Medical Center’s Anti-Racism Action Plan Oversight Committee.
Within the past year, UNMC has taken steps to create sustainable change and a more inclusive culture. In part, leaders established the Office of Inclusion, directed by Sheritta Strong, MD, and the Office of Equity, directed by Brandy Clarke, PhD.; hired Shirley Delair, MD, as associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion in the College of Medicine; and held campuswide and college-specific listening sessions in the aftermath of the George Floyd tragedy.
UNMC kicked off its thought-provoking series in October with a presentation on design thinking. Two additional events — focused on such university areas of interest as simulation and analytics — will be planned for the spring. Watch UNMC Today for details.