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January 2024 | Volume 1
Welcome to the Office of Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Newsletter!
The Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (ODMA), which has served the BioMed community since 1976, will now be known as the Office of Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OBEDI).
The mission of the OBEDI is to create a clinical learning and research environment that fosters belonging, equity, diversity, and inclusivity across the Division of Biology and Medicine at Brown.
To achieve this vision the OBEDI is structured around four areas:
Student Belonging: Supports identity-specific student affinity groups, the learning environment, and other learner-focused initiatives;
Workforce Recruitment and Retention: Focuses on housestaff and faculty recruitment, mentoring and development through programming like the Diversity in Medicine Visiting Student Scholarship, MEDSTEP (Mentoring and Educating Diverse Students and Trainees to Excel as Physicians) and affinity groups such as the Brown Minority Housestaff Association (BMHA), the Brown Sexual Gender Minority Alliance and the Brown JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Faculty Association;
Community Engagement and Pathway Programming: Introduces school-age children and adolescents to health care fields, and engages underrepresented communities to contribute meaningfully to improving health outcomes in Rhode Island;
Curricular Innovation and Student Achievement: Aligns education initiatives across undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education and oversees programs such as the Leadership for Equity and Advancing Diversity (LEAD) Fellows Program (formerly the ODMA Fellows Program) and Brown Advocates for Social Change and Equity (BASCE).
To learn more please refer to a paper we published in the Rhode Island Medical Journal in October 2023.
Each quarter our newsletter will highlight how each Center is working towards our OBEDI mission and the broader mission of the Division of BioMed: to advance knowledge and the health and well-being of people and planet. I will be introducing the new members of our office and providing a more detailed overview of how each of the four operational areas is structured. We look forward to engaging with our colleagues across the Division to build and sustain an equitable clinical learning and research environment.
Patricia Poitevien, MD, MSc, FAAP
Senior Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Beyond Increasing Participation
By Jonathan Garris
Leaders from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and the Brown science community gathered at The Warren Alpert Medical School to focus on how to create a more inclusive and diverse environment for Brown and beyond, as part of the “Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations: Beyond Broadening Participation” conference on Oct. 26.
The daylong conference was the culmination of more than six months of planning by a steering committee composed of representatives of STEMM fields (science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine) at Brown and chaired by Patricia Poitevien ’94 MD’98, MSc, senior associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion, in the Division of Biology and Medicine. Poitevien opened the day’s events and served as a panelist during a session on antiracist and DEI strategies for graduate students.
Poitevien said Brown has made "incredible strides in diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging, across the STEMM continuum," due to the University's activist nature, the advocacy among students, faculty, and alums, the support from administrators, and the passion that many have for "inclusive excellence." She stressed, however, that there is still much work to be done, and the conference represented an opportunity to engage "honestly and humbly" with members of NASEM and the community.
"My hope, and I think our hope collectively, is to set a standard for STEMM institutions," she said. "We understand that the future of scientific inquiry and innovation depends on the work that we will embark upon today.”
Attendees included students, faculty, administration, alumni, and staff from across the University and a variety of divisions, including engineering, chemistry, physics and others. A trio of faculty-led panels discussed advancing antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion for faculty, undergraduates, and graduate students, which also allowed questions and input from audience members.
Mukesh K. Jain, MD, senior vice president for health affairs and dean of medicine and biological sciences, said that Brown and other institutions have a responsibility as members of the community to remain invested to increase diversity and inclusion across these fields.
“We in the Division are focused on working on structural deconstruction that we believe will bring a conducive environment for lasting anti-racist change,” Jain said. He cited “robust efforts” to increase the number of young people in medicine through K-12 pathway initiatives like SMART-Plus and Week of Medicine, and the Brown Gateways to Medicine, Health Care, and Research master’s degree program.
The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) & the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) hosted a fundraiser event: Blend: The Arts of our Culture Friday October 13th from 7:00 pm - 11:30 pm at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. This event was held to raise awareness and funds for the Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island. The Dorcas International Institute works to empower some of the most vulnerable members of the Rhode Island community by providing programs and services such as legal aid, education, and refugee resettlement. As the only agency resettling refugees in the state, the Dorcas International Institute plays an invaluable role in the community.
LMSA Dia de los Muertos - On November 1st through November 3rd The Latino Medical Student Association hosted a Dia de los Muertos celebration. The event allowed a chance for students to learn about The Day of the Dead, a tradition of remembering our ancestors celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American countries. The students decorated wooden skulls, made ‘papel picado’, a traditional decorative pattern made on paper and marigold vase decorating. An informational pamphlet was provided that had information regarding each activity and its meaning/importance in Mexican/Latin American tradition. The event provided education to the larger AMS community regarding the celebration.
APAMSA Diwali Celebration - On November 16th the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association hosted a Diwali Celebration. It was a celebration of the Hindu festival of lights during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin and Kartika.
SPECTRUM & NAAMA Palestine & Queer Potluck - On November 15th SPECTRUM (LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group) and the National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) hosted an event to hold a safe space to commune for Palestinian and Queer folks affected by the current Israel-Hamas conflict. Art supplies and other materials were given during the event to allow a space for people to grieve and have community.
SPECTRUM Born to Be Movie Screening - On November 30th SPECTRUM (LGBTQIA+ affinity group) hosted an exclusive screening of Born to Be, a lively and moving documentary that takes a look at the first American hospital to provide gender-affirming surgeries. Following the showing of the movie a Q&A was held with the physicians featured in the film.
On September 12th, 2023, The Office of Belonging Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OBEDI) hosted a MEDSTEP (Mentoring and Educating Diverse Students to Excel as Physicians) Empowerment Lunch to discuss the topic of Belonging. Over thirty students attended this event designed for first-year medical students.
Over lunch, Dr. Tracey Guthrie, Assistant Dean for Diversity and Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior delivered an empowering presentation on the topic of Belonging and engaged the students in dialogue around how systems, connections, and self reflection all play a role in a sense of belonging.
Empowerment lunches are designed to encourage fellowship, to support students growth, and development together, so they can thrive at Brown! Future topics will include learning how to navigate the academic environment, financial wellness and coping with failure.
The Brown Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Faculty Association (JEDI FA) set sail on September 17th, 2023 as part of a "Let's Get Outside" series. The Center for Workforce Recruitment and Retention launched the series to encourage members of the JEDI FA to get outside of the day to day and continue to expand and explore places where those who have had a history of marginalization have not always been given access or told they do not belong. Whether that is access to an executive coach, our own happiness/joy, or sailing on the Narragansett bay. The OBEDI JEDI FA intends to do it.
Dr. Carla Moreira, one of the Brown Minority Housestaff Association (BMHA) advisors and Associate Professor of Surgery, hosted a welcome party on Saturday August 5th to celebrate the start of the new academic year. Residents and Fellows of color attended from a variety of programs including Surgery, Ob/Gyn, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Dermatology. It was a great opportunity to meet outside, expand the community, and eat delicious food from La Gran Parada. Please email bmha@listserv.brown.edu if you would like to hear about future events including our next homecoming event!
On October 31, 2023, The Office of Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OBEDI) hosted a MEDSTEP (Mentoring and Educating Diverse Students to Excel as Physicians) Empowerment Lunch to discuss the topic of how to navigate the tension between wellness and our schedules/responsibilities and well as distressing tolerance skills. Over thirty students attended this event designed for first-year medical students. Over lunch, Dr. Kelly Holder, Chief Wellness Officer delivered an effective presentation on the topic of wellness and engaged the students in dialogue around how support, connections, and self reflection all play a role in overall wellness.
BASCE - The Brown Advocates for Social Change and Equity (BASCE) is a highly rigorous research and fellowship program that supports physicians at all levels to be effective leaders and changemakers for health equity. This program prepares its members to be pioneers in their topic of interest--implementing thoughtful solutions to complex problems that we can't afford to dismiss. BASCE fellows are the changemakers that we have been waiting for--for equitable lives and futures. We are currently supporting 10 research projects (4 students, 7 physicians) that address local, regional, national, and global concerns. During the months the first half of the program, fellows learned about the different frameworks that help unpack health equity concerns and the basics of program/project management and evaluation. Fellows will preset their completed projects in the Spring to the Entire Brown BioMed Community.
TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM) is a program designed to provide academic support and empowerment with a particular focus on first-year medical students with identities that have been historically underrepresented in medicine. The program is dedicated to establishing a secure and judgment-free environment for students, fostering a sense of belonging and academic success. The program schedule consists of six sessions, strategically held one week before each medical school block exam. These sessions, facilitated by the OBEDI LEAD Fellow (Idowu Olugbade, MD24) and supported by second to fourth-year tutors, provide a safe, judgment-free space to discuss difficult concepts and ask questions. During the sessions, students actively work with their peers to tackle practice questions and reinforce their understanding of course material. Additionally, TEAM extends academic support by providing students with practical tools for success. This includes guidance on developing effective study techniques, creating personalized study schedules, and mastering time management skills—essential components for building academic confidence and excelling in medical school."
Meeting in the Middle - This program aims to educate and empower 8th grade students in the Central Falls School District by offering a two pronged approach consisting of medically focused educational programing for students accompanied by partnerships between Calcutt Middle School students and The Warren Alpert Medical School students. This program intends to serve as part of the new pipeline program that will be established at Calcutt Middle School and facilitated by The Warren Alpert Medical School, as part of the SMART clinic plus initiative. The program has a total of 6 sessions for the 2023 academic year which started 10/16/23-11/27/23.
Rhode to Medicine Mixer - On 10/25/23 the First Annual Rhode to Medicine Mixer occurred. Rhode to Medicine, previously known as Month of Medicine, is a program which provides pre-med students in the state of Rhode Island with skills and experiences that make them stronger candidates for medical school. All 3 past cohorts came and united this evening to discuss the program, networking, and upcoming opportunities.
Community Health Workers Association of Rhode Island
On September 23, nearly 100 community health workers from all over Rhode Island gathered at The Warren Alpert Medical School for a day of networking and professional development. CHWs are public health workers who apply their unique understanding of the experience, language and/or culture of the populations they serve while providing a wide range of services to members of the community. The Warren Alpert Medical School partnered with RIPIN, the Rhode Island Department of Health, and other sponsors to bring the CHWs workshops on self-care, policy, community resources, and advocacy. Participants also had opportunities to network and learn more about community-serving organizations.
Joseph Diaz, MD, MPH, associate dean for diversity and multicultural affairs in the Office of Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, said the event was an important step toward greater engagement with the Rhode Island community. "Community health workers play a vital role in our health workforce," Diaz says. "We were thrilled to host them at the Medical School and to support their professional development. I am grateful to all of the other sponsors that joined us in presenting this conference."
Upcoming Events
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Brown University is located in Providence, Rhode Island, on lands that are within the ancestral homelands of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. We acknowledge that beginning with colonization and continuing for centuries the Narragansett Indian Tribe have been dispossessed of most of their ancestral lands in Rhode Island by the actions of individuals and institutions. We acknowledge our responsibility to understand and respond to those actions. The Narragansett Indian Tribe, whose ancestors stewarded these lands with great care, continues as a sovereign nation today. We commit to working together to honor our past and build our future with truth.
Contact Us - T: (401) 863-9855 | E: OBEDI@Brown.edu | W: diversity.biomed.brown.edu
