The following timeline, beginning in 2014, catalogues the milestones of our anti-racism work toward making the UCSF School of Medicine a place that is home to people with diverse identities and backgrounds, all of whom are committed to advancing equity, belonging, and anti-oppression in medicine.
Created and tasked with developing, implementing and monitoring programs to increase the culture of diversity and inclusion in faculty within the School of Medicine. The charge included recommending principles and a process for the use of Dean’s Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Investment Fund.
As an outcome of the CD2, distribution of a report detailing the gender and ethnicity breakdown of faculty, staff, and learners by department and as compared to AAMC data of medical schools across the country. This report serves as a benchmark and transparent distribution of data.
In the wake of decisions on the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases in late 2014, UCSF medical students felt a sense of isolated helplessness. This spurred them to organize a national “White Coats 4 Black Lives” Die-In held nationwide to spread the awareness of the tremendous health issue presented by violence and racism and to organize a Town Hall meeting to share reflections on violence, racial bias and personal experiences with diversity at UCSF. These actions fueled discussion at a leadership level and inspired the dean to focus the school’s annual leadership retreat on race.
In January 2015, School of Medicine Leadership Retreat focused on the theme of “Race Matters”. Leaders from across the school and campus gathered to increase collective awareness of the impact of race on clinical, social and public health outcomes and create a collective urgency around the issues of racial diversity in the UCSF faculty. The response was overwhelmingly one of sensitivity and interest, and spurred leadership to develop a coordinated effort to enact change. During this retreat, the initial presentation on an anchor institution framework was given. Anchor institutions are place-based, mission-driven entities such as hospitals, universities, and government agencies that leverage their economic power alongside their human and intellectual resources to improve the long-term health and social welfare of their communities.
To assist with recruitment and retention of faculty who share our commitments to diversity and service to underserved or vulnerable populations, each year the Dean’s Office will award up to eight grants to support activities related to our educational and scholarly missions. These grants will provide critical support that will allow faculty to develop their academic interests as well as pursue activities that contribute to the community.
Inaugural cohort of Watson Scholars, recipients of the Dean’s Diversity Fund, announced. The Dean’s Diversity Fund was established in 2015 to support the recruitment and retention of faculty who share the university’s commitment to diversity and service to underserved or vulnerable populations. Each year, eight to ten junior faculty members are selected for grants that will provide critical support to allow UIM faculty develop their academic interests so that they may launch successful careers in academic medicine. The scholars serve as John A. Watson Scholars, named in honor of John A. Watson, PhD, a pioneer for diversity, an inspiring mentor, and a tenacious scientist whose service to the UCSF School of Medicine spanned forty-six years. Click below to learn more about 2015's nine Watson Scholars.
A multi-year, multi-faceted School of Medicine initiative designed to make UCSF the most diverse, equitable and inclusive academic medical system in the country. Differences Matter has six focus areas led by faculty and staff Dean’s Diversity Leaders.
Distribution of annual report detailing the gender and ethnicity breakdown of faculty, staff, and learners by department and as compared to AAMC data of medical schools across the country. This report serves as a benchmark and transparent distribution of data.
One year after students launched a national movement to highlight racial disparities in education, health care and civic justice, they gathered again to meet a new challenge for the movement: turn words into actions. About 100 UCSF students, faculty and staff gathered in front of the Parnassus Library to discuss making a difference. Organizers handed out notecards with simple questions, encouraging attendees to offer ideas on what they could do, what UCSF could do, and what allies could do to advance equity and inclusion for all.
