Dine with Pride

The Dine with Pride celebration at the John P. and Kathrine-G. McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, held during Pride Month in June, focused on increasing the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community and establishing the priority of inclusion. The UTHealth LGTBQ+ resource group and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion collaborated on the event to offer students, faculty, staff, and allies the opportunity to participate in conversations, games, networking opportunities, and education regarding LGBTQ+ resources from multiple organizations across UTHealth. The evening included food, music, and carnival-themed entertainment for the entire campus community to enjoy.

Minority Health Conference

Since 1977, the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health’s Minority Student Caucus has led the annual Minority Health Conference, an event that addresses wide-ranging topics such as community-based research, social determinants of health, systems of power, and more. The conference attracts attendees and speakers from across the country, and its all-virtual format in February 2021 allowed for an even broader audience. The conference’s theme was “Body and Soul” and explored avenues of health activism that go beyond the scope of politics. Keynote speakers were famed researchers and health equity advocates Dr. Wizdom Powell and Dr. Sharrelle Barber.

Inclusive Excellence Week

The Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment (VOICE) group at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine hosts Inclusive Excellence Week every year in January to promote best practices for creating inclusive spaces in the field of veterinary medicine. VOICE — a student-run organization housed in the school’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — offers opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to learn about a wide range of DEI issues during the weeklong program. Specific events include movie screenings, guest speakers, “Lunch and Learn” sessions, and more.   

The Pillars Awards

The Pillars is an institutional awards program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center that honors individuals and organizations who have made meaningful contributions that broaden diversity and promote a climate of inclusion on campus and beyond. The awards include individual categories for students, faculty, alumni, departments, and community members or organizations. In 2021, the awards gave special consideration to activities and initiatives performed in the interest of treating patients, supporting essential employees, advancing research, or addressing social determinants of health due to the COVID-19 pandemic.●

This article was published in our December 2021 issue.