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Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts on September 15 and ends on October 15, provides a unique opportunity for reflection and a distinct call to action. To honor this, the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion spotlights a strong movement for change in Alabama. This change is brought about through the program Live HealthSmart Alabama (LHSA), which makes its home here at UAB.

LHSA is a transformational initiative centered on making good health simple for all Alabamians. With a network of more than 100 partners, trusted community relationships, proven revitalization strategies, and layered programming, this program strives to decrease the incidence of chronic disease and achieve health equity across the state.

To reach its communities, Live HealthSmart Alabama has a fleet of mobile units that address access to healthy food and prevention and wellness care. The Mobile Wellness van provides health screenings and the Mobile Market brings fresh, affordable groceries to underserved neighborhoods. Dalton Norwood, M.D., director of Prevention and Wellness, and Lemeshia Chambers, Ph.D., MSW, program director of Live HealthSmart Alabama, along with their team, help bring sustainable change to neighborhoods in the greater Birmingham area.

Interventions in the Hispanic Community

Norwood, a research scientist from Honduras, explained "With Live HealthSmart Alabama, we are trying to contribute to health equity by addressing social determinants of health in our population, particularly in underserved communities." While these neighborhoods are home to people of many racial and ethnic backgrounds, Norwood analyzed the data and saw a substantial need for members of the Hispanic Community.

Using a systematic method that included data analysis of various social determinants of health (health outcomes, income status, and health coverage) five Birmingham neighborhoods were chosen as “demonstration zones.” These communities are home to underserved minorities, mainly African Americans, and a growing percentage of Hispanics. Kingston, East Lake, Bush Hills, Titusville, and the UAB Campus—are just a few of the locations for Mobile Market and the Mobile Wellness stops.

Why are these locations a particular area of focus for LHSA?

Norwood says that many of the challenges that the Mobile Market and Mobile Wellness vans address are challenges faced by people in these areas: "What we see in these communities is a clustering of different social determinants of health that can have a negative impact on health. For instance, healthy eating is often a challenged task because they live in food deserts, that can have a significant influence in a populations health."

He went on, "People usually eat unhealthy items because it is what they have access to. So, they end up eating fried food or only snacks. Because they do not have easy access to fresh vegetables and fruits, they don’t consume them. That is where the intervention of a Mobile Market comes in place, providing healthy options such as vegetables, fruits, and lean meats at affordable prices in convenient locations within their neighborhoods." Paired with the Mobile Market, is the Mobile Wellness van which educates community memebers on the importance of consuming these healthy food options and how they are related to health outcomes.

Another challenge that Norwood, who worked in the rural communities of Honduras before coming to Birmingham, touched on was access to healthcare. He explained, "We find many individuals don't have health coverage or a medical provider. This is particularly evident in the Hispanic community where there are additional burdens unique to this population, combined with the same social determinants of health as other underrepresented minorities.”

This set of unique problems requires a multidimensional and culturally sensitive approach.

Norwood unpacked, “The most important reason why not everyone has a health provider is that there is a big need for providers that are both culturally and linguistically capable of attending to them. Everyone wants a healthcare provider that understands your culture and its able to communicate appropriately."

This is an insight that Chambers echoed, saying, "It was, at first, tough to get the Hispanic Communities' trust. They would trust us enough to come out and have their wellness numbers evaluated and checked to find out where they were health-wise. But they came out in droves once they realized that we had Spanish-speaking and Hispanic team members they could trust. It was a highly successful opportunity to evaluate those community members' numbers and get them on the right track for better health."

The trust-building steps were not complicated, especially with language; she explained, "It was just a warm, welcoming smile. We were not judgmental. We were there truly to help them, which was evident in our actions, and by our actions…we allowed them to take control of the conversation. We didn't try to lead the conversation. If they had particular questions about their health, we answered those questions fully and completely to the best of our ability. We didn't push them off on someone else."

This level of attentive care is paramount as it not only overcomes the challenge of trust through time but also ensures that word spreads through these tight-knit communities that are aware of what is on their doorstep in terms of free healthcare and low-cost fresh food.

This awareness addresses both geographical access and cost barriers; as Norwood explains, "The Mobile Wellness and Mobile Market vans break the barrier of transportation to the location for people who wouldn't normally be able to travel to a static venue. Secondly, and possibly most important is that our mobile wellness screenings are at no cost for them. That means that the individuals who don't have to health coverage are able to be seen. The Hispanic population is one of the underrepresented minorities with the highest uninsured rates, with nearly one in three lacking coverage, compared to 13% in their white counterparts."

The moment his work in the Hispanic Community hit home for Dr. Norwood was when he provided health screenings and care for people who hadn't been able to go to the doctor for decades. He reflected, "In the Latino population we served, there were participants that didn't have healthcare or age and sex cancer screenings since they arrived in this country. For some people, that meant 20 or 30 years without health screenings." In these moments, Norwood sees the impact that he and the whole team at LHSA make daily in communities that are so often overlooked.

Please visit this page for more about when and where you can catch the Mobile Wellness and Mobile Market vans or about what Live HealthSmart Alabama does to make good health simple.

The absence of a sense of belonging can lead to lower morale, higher attrition, and an uncomfortable, or even toxic, workplace culture. Unfortunately, building belonging isn’t something that happens by chance – it takes a series of intentional, determined actions, and a dedication on the part of all leaders and employees. 

This is the beginning of the message of “Building Belonging,” the first in a 4-module series for an exciting new “toolkit,” designed to provide all staff, faculty, trainees, and students within UAB School of Medicine with the practical resources to build a strong, resilient, healthy environment. The toolkit, entitled “The Common Thread: Find Yourself in Everyone,” deals with essential topics in cultural inclusion, and can be found at uab.edu/theCommonThread.

“Building Belonging” discusses the crucial nature of intentionally fostering inclusivity within the workplace and learning environment. Successfully piloted during Patient Experience Week in April 2018, this module includes an introductory video, and a series of TED Talk-style speeches featuring UAB’s Michael Saag, M.D., covering all components of the module. The toolkit also offers downloadable print resources with discussion questions, citations, and the PowerPoint presentation used by Saag in his speech. All of these resources are available through the toolkit website.

“I’m an older employee,” wrote one UAB staff member, “and leadership has made it clear that I’m no longer part of ‘the team’ because I’m at the higher end of the age range. I feel stuck, humiliated, and frustrated.”

This true story from a UAB staff member is one of a many stories dealing with implicit bias, the unspoken – and often invisible – set of assumptions that each person carries around with them. These assumptions comprise a set of biases that inform the function of every individual, and everyone has biases.

Simply put, a bias is a preference, and not all preferences are bad. Some biases are healthy and intended to aid with our survival – for example, a bias against unsafe heights or small enclosed spaces. Other biases can be harmful, particularly when those biases of which we’re unaware, called unconscious or implicit bias, cause us to act in discriminatory ways toward our colleagues, fellow students, or patients. 

This is the overarching premise for “Understanding Bias,” the second in a series of modules for “The Common Thread: Find Yourself in Everyone.” The Common Thread is a Toolkit, offering resources for dealing with fostering belonging, addressing bias, cultural competency, and conflict resolution. Beginning with a concept launch video early in the spring, “The Common Thread” has been rolling out materials for workshops and discussions throughout the year. 

“The Common Thread” adopts a revolutionary new approach to questions of diversity and inclusion, proposing that diversity efforts by themselves are not only insufficient, but often counterproductive. Diversity, which empirical data indicates leads to greater innovation, insight, excellence, and profitability, is only successful when paired with intentional inclusivity initiatives. The toolkit offers practical resources for building this inclusivity.

ODI’s very own Carolyn Maddox has created a sample video for “Saved Eggs” (an-egg free play on Deviled Eggs) to show you how easy creating a video for the virtual diversity fair can be.

A picture by itself can be worth 1000 words, but as the 1st place photo in the Office for Diversity & Inclusions’ photo contest, we wanted to give it a few more.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) Grand Rounds featuring George Mensah, M.D., FACC, FAHA, director of the Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). 

Held each year to commemorate Second Look Weekend, ODI gave a warm welcome to current faculty and staff, and potential UAB residents. 

To begin the lecture, Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS, dean of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, CEO of the UAB Health System and CEO of the UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance introduced the highly anticipated keynote speaker.

As one of the most successful programs offered by the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Transforming Success® has helped us shape the lives of over 100 women faculty members since 2016. 

The Transforming Success® program addresses a unique aspect of leadership development that is often missing from leadership curricula. The program equips participants with the self-awareness and self-management tools that provide the foundation of good leadership.

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2022 Women in Medicine and Science Grand Rounds, hosted in partnership by Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and the Department of Medicine. This year's lecture featured Molly Carnes, M.D., M.S., director of the Center for Women’s Health Research in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

With a name like “Women’s History Month,” it’s easy to understand the sentiment behind what we celebrate during the month of March. However, to truly honor this time, we must recognize why we celebrate. 

When signing the proclamation of Women’s History Month in 1987, President Jimmy Carter explained, “…men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But, the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America [were] as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.”

To shine a light on the many accomplishments of women, each year the National Women’s History Alliance creates a campaign, centered around a national theme. This year, the theme selected was Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope. Not only was this idea chosen to acknowledge and appreciate the hard-work caregivers and frontline workers have delivered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but also to honor those who have provided healing and hope throughout history. 

At UAB, we have an awe-inspiring number of women who provide care and encouragement to those in need. These women are making history and we want to share their stories. 

Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion has partnered with various departments throughout the school to spotlight a diverse range of perspectives over the course of the next five weeks. 

Additionally, we will be hosting a special Women in Medicine & Science lecture featuring Molly Carnes. During this one-hour session, on March 16 at noon, she will present Bias is a Habit That Can Be Broken.

We are excited at what this month has in store and we look forward to celebrating the women heroes we have here at UAB. 

Sincerely, 
Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH

The Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with the UAB Department of Medicine, invites you to join them on March 1 at noon for the Women in Medicine and Science Grand Rounds. This special session will honor International Women's Day—a day celebrating the many achievements of women—with a special guest speaker, Elizabeth Ofili, M.D., M.P.H., FACC.

Ofili, a national and internationally recognized clinician-scientist, is an expert in cardiovascular disparities and women's health. Ofili has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health and industry/foundations since 1994. More recently, Ofili serves as one of the PIs on a $58.6 million grant from the NIH to continue transforming medical research into results in the state of Georgia.

As president of the Association of Black Cardiologists in 2002, she led an initiative to implement the landmark African American Heart Failure Trial (AHEFT), whose findings led to a change in practice guidelines for the treatment of heart failure in African Americans.

This is an excellent opportunity to hear from a leader in the field and celebrate women's contributions to medicine and science, all while earning continuing education units (CEUs). The event will be held on Zoom, so register today to reserve your spot!

March 1, 2023
Noon

IMPORTANT: When registering, use the drop down to select the date and time for Dr. Ofili's session. The correct time should read, "Mar 1, 2023 12:00 PM" as pictured below.

Meet the Speaker

Over the past seventeen years, she has led the growth of the clinical research infrastructure and training programs at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) with awards totaling over $150 million, including serving as the founding director of the U54 center of clinical research excellence, the community physicians network, the U54 RCMI Center of Excellence for Clinical and Translational Research and the R25 clinical research education and career development program. Dr Ofili has mentored over 30 MD and PhD clinical and translational science investigators, many of who remain at MSM. She has mentored over 25 underrepresented minority STEM undergraduates, and high school students through funding from NASA and the Minority Biomedical Research Students program.

She is the senior co-PI of the Atlanta Clinical and Translational Science Institute (ACTSI), a citywide collaborative CTSA at Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, along with their partnering health systems and statewide research organizations. Since 2007, ACTSI has engaged over 673 investigators, and 134 postdoctoral and predoctoral trainees in discovery science, training and community engagement. Dr Ofili has led successful multi institutional collaborations through the ACTSI and the RCMI Translational Research Network of 18 historically Black, Hispanic and Minority Serving Institutions across the nation, and was lead author of a publication on models of partnerships between HBCUs/MSIs and research intensive institutions.

Dr Ofili holds a patent for "A system and method for chronic illness care", and is the recipient of over 20 national and international awards, including the 2003 National Library of Medicine's "Changing the Face of Medicine, the Rise of America's Women", The Daniel Savage Memorial Science Award from the Association of Black Cardiologists, America's Top Doctors by Black Enterprise Magazine and 100 Most influential healthcare leaders by Atlanta Business Chronicle.

She has delivered over 600 scientific presentations and published over 130 scientific papers in national and international journals. As a AAMC 2007 Council of Dean Fellow, Dr Ofili led a project on best practices to sustaining the biomedical and physician workforce. She has advised the NIH on diversity in the biomedical research workforce, and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the National Clinical Center (NIH), and on the AAMC advisory panel on research. She is an elected member of the Association of University Cardiologists, and is on the board of directors of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute.

Earlier this year, UAB School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion celebrated its 4th annual diversity fair. Coinciding with second look weekend for resident applicants, the diversity fair brings together food, decor from around the world, international music, and a little friendly competition as School of Medicine departments compete for best table.

Recap, Impact, Cookbook, Winners, and Acknowledgements

 The idea of coming together was challenging in 2020 and has continued to be in 2021. However, with the hardships faced this past year, “togetherness” is perhaps what we needed most.

Since 2016, the School of Medicine Office for Diversity & Inclusion has hosted a Diversity Fair to raise awareness and celebrate the different cultures found at UAB. Carefully selected to fall on Second Look Weekend, this event embodies what it means to work and learn at our school—how each one of us can come together to create something amazing.

The AAPI Faculty Association would like to congratulate its members who have recently received a promotion, grant, or award. 

Congratulations to each of the honorees! We look forward to seeing all the great things to come. 

The Heersink School of Medicine Office of Diversity and Inclusion Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Faculty Association celebrated AAPI Heritage Month with a special educational event. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about various Asian and Pacific Islander cultures through food, traditional dance, music, art, and engaging speakers. The event showcased several exhibits and performances and presented a unique opportunity for attendees to learn about things they may encounter daily, each of which are rooted in AAPI culture.

On February 9-10, 2018, UAB’s Chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) hosted the first ever Region 5 AMWA conference. Region 5 includes Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and the Caribbean, and students, residents, fellows and faculty from schools in all of these areas were invited to attend.

Beginning with a reception at The Wine Loft on the evening of February 9, the conference gave attendees the opportunity to network, share research, and examine germane issues related to personal and professional development.

The formal conference events were held on February 10, at The Edge of Chaos at Lister Hill Library. Nearly 100 faculty, trainees, and students registered for the conference.

A poster session beginning at 8:00 am gave attendees the opportunity to showcase current research endeavors. Following the poster session, the women and men in attendance were welcomed by Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, and by Lauren Walter, M.D., UAB AMWA Chapter President and Region 5 Faculty Director and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine. Yvonne Chodaba, a 4^th year Medical Student and Region 5 Student Director also offered words of welcome.

The UAB chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) formally launched roughly a year ago, at a lunch meeting so full that attendees packed the room, standing where there wasn’t room to sit. Since that time, Chapter President Lauren Walter, MD, with the assistance of the School of Medicine’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion, has crafted an organizational structure to engage the most pressing issues facing women faculty at the UAB School of Medicine.

On May 27, the next steps for UAB’s AMWA chapter were unveiled at a second lunch meeting. Mona Fouad, MD, MPH, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion for the UAB School of Medicine, provided the welcome and introduction, emphasizing the ongoing need for women to collectively advocate for gender equity within their institutions.

On September 14, the UAB Chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) kicked off their fall schedule with a membership drive. From their position near the North Pavilion elevators, Lauren Walter, M.D., Marisa Marques, M.D., and other AMWA members passed out popcorn and fliers and invited faculty of the School of Medicine to sign up to be a part of the organization.

The UAB Chapter of AMWA meets once a month, usually during the lunch hour, to discuss issues critical to women in medicine and science within the School of Medicine. Open to both M.D.s and Ph.Ds, AMWA endeavors to bring critical and relevant topics to the forefront and help women develop strategies to maximize career and personal success.

For those who missed the membership drive on September 14, the next AMWA Meeting is scheduled for October 26 at 12:00 noon in West Pavilion D. Boxed lunches are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. On November 14, the regular monthly meeting will feature a special guest speaker: Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirkgraber of Indiana University, who will be delivering a presentation on negotiation skills.

Since its re-launch at the UAB School of Medicine in fall, 2015, the UAB faculty chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) has been hard at work identifying topics of pressing interest to women faculty, and providing resources to encourage networking and professional development. Through monthly meetings, and a number of working groups that target mentoring and advocacy, AMWA has engaged women in medicine and science at UAB School of Medicine in a myriad ways.

Over the 2016-2017 academic year, this AMWA chapter, led by President Lauren Walter, M.D., has endeavored to not only provide a wealth of information through monthly topical meetings, but also to encourage individual connections not only between faculty members, but between faculty, trainees and students.

The UAB AMWA chapter’s mission, which is to “promote, recognize, and celebrate women in medicine and science at UAB,” is realized on numerous levels through is components operations.

Cynthia Brown, M.D., who serves as Mentorship Chair for the AMWA chapter, initiated and coordinated a “networking match” for AMWA members. This unique program connected senior faculty with junior faculty, and faculty with students and trainees, in order to cultivate meaningful mentoring relationships. Mamie McLean, M.D., the Advocacy Chair for the chapter, is engaged in information gathering and initiating conversations regarding dependent care with UAB leadership, a topic of special interest and importance to AMWA members.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) awarded its 2019–20 American Fellowship to Dr. Ashley Nicole Turner of Tallapoosa, GA. Turner is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“I am truly honored to receive an AAUW American Postdoctoral Fellowship based on my personal commitment to education and equity for women and girls in STEM,” said Turner. “During my postdoctoral training, I am acquiring experience working with the microscopic nematode C. elegans in the basic biology of aging.”

Turner plans to continue research, mentoring, and teaching as an academic scientist and professor. She wants this to include a C. elegans research lab exploring questions involving the interplay between aging and neurodegeneration, as well as teaching and offering unique research and learning opportunities to students.

“With the support of AAUW, I will gain the C. elegansmodel, tools, and expertise I need for my professional career aspirations,” said Turner.

Staying true to the group’s vision—to foster, promote, and advocate for Black/African American faculty while inspiring diversity, equity, and inclusion—the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion Black/African American Faculty Association has sought out ways to establish partnerships at UAB. 

In an alignment of goals, the faculty association began working with the Black Postdoctoral Association (BPDA) to establish an informal mentorship network between the faculty and postdocs. Additionally, a natural partnership began to form with a shared vision for raising awareness, sparking conversations, and uplifting Black scientists.