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There’s no doubt about it—the past year has changed the way we use technology to do business, go to school, attend doctor’s appointments, and now participate in medical school shadowing.

Near the end of 2020, Carmel McNicholas-Bevensee, BSc, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, wanted to find a way for students to participate in shadowing. Dr. McNicholas-Bevensee explained, “Students were having anxiety because they know that they’re expected to have shadowing when they apply for medical school. Because of COVID, those opportunities were taken away. And, while it was a worldwide problem, it didn’t stop the worry.”

Two members of the School of Medicine faculty have been selected as fellows for the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program (ELAM) for 2016 - 2017. Cynthia J. Brown, MD, MSPH, and Nita A. Limdi, PharmD, MSPH, PhD, both met the extensive requirements to be accepted into this elite program – two of only 54 members accepted nationwide.

ELAM is a year-long, part-time fellowship for women faculty in schools of medicine, dentistry, and public health. The 2016-2017 class will be the 22nd incoming class for ELAM, which remains the only program in North America committed to preparing women for senior leadership roles in academic health science institutions. ELAM’s mission is of crucial importance when considered in light of the fact that women are substantially less likely than men to achieve the rank of full professor in academic medical institutions, and receive less compensation than men in comparable positions. The higher the rank in academic medicine, the more under-represented women are as a group – comprising roughly 16% of all deans in such institutions nationwide.

Our mission to pursue excellence in medicine at the Heersink School of Medicine by cultivating an equitable environment that accepts and affirms all—in the areas of education, research, and patient care—relies on our ability to promote the career development of our diverse workforce. 

This past year, a number of our Black/African American faculty members have taken on prominent leadership roles within the school. To summarize these accomplishments, we’ve outlined a few here.

Since 1968, the United States has observed Hispanic Heritage Month—honoring roughly 60.6 million people in the country. Celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the cultures, histories, and influences of those of Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, and South American decent.

While most heritage months run a typical calendar month—the 1st to 30th or 31st—Hispanic Heritage Month dates were thoughtfully selected based on the time period when five Latin American countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua) became independent of Spain and the United Kingdom. This year will mark 202 years!

On March 8, women all over the world recognized International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the accomplishments of women, past and present, as well as to acknowledge the distance to equality that remains to be traversed. At UAB School of Medicine, the Office for Diversity and Inclusion recognized this landmark day with a Women in Medicine Lecture and Luncheon, featuring Dr. Deborah Deas.

In October 2017, Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, was elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine. This exceptional honor, which  is considered one of the highest in the fields of health and medicine, recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. Only 70 national members and 10 international members are elected each year.

On November 16, UAB leadership, as well as Fouad’s colleagues, friends, and family, gathered to celebrate her achievement in the lobby of Wallace Tumor Institute.

Acknowledging that Dr. Fouad was the first person elected to the National Academy of Medicine at UAB in two decades, Selwyn Vickers, M.D. FACS, dean of the UAB School of Medicine and senior vice president for Medicine, illustrated the significance of Fouad’s accomplishment. “This is one of the highest honors at any level given to a physician scientist in the United States,” he said in his introductory remarks. “In this process, the National Academy will receive anywhere from 800 to 1,000 nominees a year. Dr. Fouad is a nationally recognized leader who had the fortune to be elected this year.”

Mona Fouad’s wide-ranging and extensive career in medicine and research boasts local, regional, national, and international achievements. A nationally recognized expert in health disparities research, she was one of the scientists who established health disparities as a valid field of scientific study. Not only did Fouad serve two terms as a member of the NIH Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities, she was among the experts tapped to assist in the establishment of the health disparities initiatives for the National institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities. Fouad is also the founding director of the Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC), which celebrated 15 years of continuous operations in 2017.

“Mona worked tirelessly to establish the MHRC,” Vickers said, “and has been one of the founders of the field of health disparities. Her work has generated and combined research in multiple areas across cancer, behavioral disciplines, and social sciences, as well as multiple interdisciplinary programs across UAB.”

The board room in the Western Pavilion Conference Center was filled beyond capacity already; still, as the inaugural meeting for the American Medical Women’s Association began, women continued to slip through the door in the back, lunches in hand. More than 40 attendees filled the chairs and ranged along the back wall to find out what the presence of AMWA at the UAB SOM would mean for them.

Matching into a residency program is a major milestone for a doctor. As such, we want to be sure we celebrate the accomplishments of our URiM students.

To all of our 2021 matches, congratulations! We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see where your careers take you.

Recipients of the second-ever Professional Excellence Award were announced this past Friday (2/4) after the annual Diversity Grand Rounds featuring Dr. George Mensah. 

To be nominated, faculty members must be a member of one of the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion's Faculty Associations (Hispanic and Latin American, Black/African American, and Asian-American/Pacific Islander) and demonstrate career excellence in the areas of research, teaching, and service. Priority is given to those faculty who emulate Minorities in Medicine & Science principles.

In celebration of Global Diversity Awareness Month, the UAB Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion and DCGME Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion held its annual reception welcoming new faculty, residents and medical students on Tuesday, October 17. The lobby of the Wallace Tumor Institute filled with the sound of conversation as new and existing members of the UAB medical community gathered to network and converse.

The Welcome Reception was an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to gather and celebrate the diverse and inclusive nature of our university,” explained Latesha Elopre, M.D., who, along with Marquita Hicks, M.D., runs the DCGME. “Our intention is to promote and foster an atmosphere of acceptance and collegiality to strengthen our UAB community.”

Among the UAB leaders attending the event were Selwyn Vickers, M.D.; Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH; Deborah Grimes, R.N., J.D.; Craig Hoesley,M.D.: Alice Goepfert, M.D., and Anthony Patterson, MSHA. Marquita Hicks. M.D., and Latesha Elopre, M.D., who work with the DCGME, welcomed the evening crowd.

Success means something different to each individual, and there is no singular formula for achievement.

Some of UAB Medicine's most successful women leaders weigh in on success, and how to achieve it.

S. Dawn Bulgarella, MSHA, CPA

Senior Associate Dean
Administration and Finance

A major component of being successful is about willingness to work well as a member of a team.  Sometimes you are the team leader and other times you are not. Be open to learning new things and periodically working outside of your comfort zone.

Cheri L. Canon, M.D.
Professor and Witten-Stanley Endowed Chair of Radiology

Discover leadership opportunities at each stage of your career. Identify sponsors to help you get there, and ignore self doubt.

On February 13 at 7:15 am, the Department of Surgery will be hosting a Diversity Grand Rounds lecture featuring George Yang, MD, PhD, who will be speaking on the topic: "Impact of Immigration onAmerican Surgery." This lecture is an initiative within the broader initiatives within the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Yang is an Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency and internship. He is a fellow of the American Surgical Association and former President of the Society of University Surgeons. He is a recipient of the wound care management award, and previously served as the Chair of the publications Committee for the Society of University Surgeons. 

The lecture will be held at Margaret Cameron Spain auditorium and is open to employees of UAB Medicine.

What makes Christmas a special holiday for those who celebrate?

Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25, is a special holiday for many people. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and spend time with family and friends. Many people also enjoy the traditions associated with the holiday, such as decorating a Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, and singing Christmas carols. For many, Christmas is a time to reflect on the year that has passed and to look forward to the year ahead with hope and optimism.

The Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion (Heersink ODI) spoke to Program Manager II Erica Brown, M.Ed, about what makes Christmas special for her and how she celebrates it.

Brown grew up traveling and gathering with family at Christmas, a tradition she continues today. She explains, “Christmas has always been a special time in our family. To give you some context, both my parents are from the south. My dad's from Georgia, and my mom's from Alabama. But I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For us, Christmas wasn't necessarily about gift-giving. It was everything that led up to Christmas, the family gatherings. I have a lot of family in Fort Wayne, a lot of family in Georgia, and a lot of family here in Alabama. So, we never stayed in hotels. We always stayed with each other because it had been such a long time since we'd seen each other. “

The Brown family’s celebrations

Brown remembers celebrations, “We would all get together when I was a child, just like we still do today. A lot of my family members, especially when the older generation was still with us, would to go to my grandmothers’ houses on both sides. One grandmother was in Georgia; one was in Birmingham. We'd switch back and forth. That was the best time, and even though it’s a little different today, it still is special.

Back in the day, my grandma always had giant four-decker cakes and pies. There was more food than you could eat in a day, and we kept those old Southern traditions. We graze, meaning you stop for a little bit and eat until you’re full. Then once you get a second wind, you come back for more. That is all leading up to Christmas. And on Christmas day, we have Christmas breakfast.” She elaborated, "As kids, we would get up, have Christmas breakfast, and open our presents. The adults didn’t usually exchange gifts.”

Brown’s one standout Christmas memory

“To give you some context, I was the mischievous one in the family. I have an identical twin, who is older. She would always follow me, but she would get into trouble for things that I did. My parents would hide our Christmas presents and one year I found the location where they hid all the presents. At first, my parents said, ‘Santa Claus hides gifts all over the world; those aren't your presents.’ The next day, I remember seeing all those gifts under the tree. I thought to myself, ‘nope, that’s not true.’ That was when I discovered Santa Claus wasn't real.”

A favorite sweet dish

It’s a quick answer for Brown when she thinks of her favorite dish to share with the family this holiday, “Sweet potato casserole, that’s my favorite. My favorite version is my mother's, so it just can't be from anybody. I would also say my dad's sweet potato pie. My dad is more of a cook in the family.”

More Christmas Traditions

Claudia Hardy, Director of Community Outreach in the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center

Broad family gathering with gift exchange on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

 

 

 

Rodney Tucker, M.D.

Time with family then quiet Relaxation; Sometimes trip out of the country.

Rodney Sullivan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Director of Medical Physics Residency Program

Just hanging with family, opening presents, and reflecting on the birth of Jesus.

Shirley Gibbs, Program Director in the Department of Neurology and ODI Staff Liaison

The best part of Christmas for me is Christmas Eve and spent with Family and good food. Watching my small nieces and nephews be so excited about Christmas and opening present. Enjoying time with my Mom and Siblings is always the best.

Valerie Minor, Administrative Associate in the Office of Wellness

Gather with family. Share memories. Play music (sometimes even sing and dance!). Give Gifts. Have a big meal together.

Nicole Guyton, Program Director and ODI Staff Liaison

Surrounded by family. We enjoy playing Dirty Santa and having ugly sweater wars!

The UAB School of Medicine Diversity Ambassadors have been active this inverview season. Diversity Ambassadors serve all four campuses for the UAB School of Medicine, and are an integral part of the ODI Student Affairs interview day. In addition to other functions, they participate in pre-interview dinners with prospects. 

"Diversity Ambassadors are key to our recruiting efforts, and the feedback from candidates that have interviewed here at the UAB School of Medicine has been very complimentary," says Jenna Blythe-Tjia, who heads recruiting for ODI Student Affairs.

In October 2019, the application process for MS1s to apply to be Diversity Ambassadors will open.

On January 25, 2019 the second floor atrium of North Pavilion was filled with the tantalizing scents of a myriad cuisines, as students, faculty, and staff of UAB Medicine wandered from booth to booth to the sound of international music. UAB School of Medicine’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion was hosting its annual Diversity Fair, and the atrium was packed to overflowing as hundreds of guests milled through.

This is the third year in a row the School of Medicine’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion has sponsored this Fair, in which each department showcases the food, décor, and atmosphere of one or more cultures associated with their staff and faculty.  “It is truly a delight to see the effort each department puts into the Fair,” said Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, “and to enjoy the wealth of diversity UAB Medicine has to offer.”

In addition to the creative food offerings by each department, attendees were entertained by the musical stylings of Sol Musica, an international fusion band featuring from as far afield as Peru and India. Led by band director Arturo La Cruz, Sol Musica played a range of unique songs from around the world, as well as American classics.

On February 3, 2017, the Office for Diversity and Inclusion launched the first annual School of Medicine Diversity Fair, as a celebratory conclusion to Diversity Day. Designed to highlight the diversity of culture, background, and experience present in the UAB School of Medicine, the Fair featured multicultural food booths designed and presented by the departments within the School, as well as UAB Medicine's Marketing and Communications department. 

The Birmingham Girls Choir and an international jazz band performed, and local artists showcased their artwork. Local slam poets, led by Brian Voice Porter, performed original work. Several hundred School of Medicine faculty and staff, as well as their families, attended the event, filling the lobby and upstairs of the Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

The UAB School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion is delighted to announce its first annual Diversity Fair, to be held February 3, 2017, in the lobby of the Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Fair will feature booths from various departments within the School of Medicine, which will showcase the diversity within each department. Local musicians, including the Birmingham Girls' Choir, will perform; the work of local visual and performance artists will also be showcased. Light refreshments will provide a window into the culinary stylings of international cultures. 

"The Diversity Fair is a unique opportunity to celebrate all of the differences that bring us together," says Mona Fouad, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the UAB School of Medicine. "It provides us with a creative way to recognize that diversity is everyone."

The event is free and open to the public.

Thank you to everyone who attended the SOM Office for Diversity & Inclusion Grand Rounds last Friday (2/5) featuring Eliseo Pérez-Stable, M.D., Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The lecture, “Enhancing Diversity in the Clinical and Biomedical Workforce: An Imperative for Excellence,” was an extension of Second Look Weekend.

Traditionally, this annual event is held in person, but like many things throughout the pandemic, was moved to a virtual format. In attendance were guests from varying stages in their career—including faculty, staff, residents, fellows, and potential residents.

"The Common Thread: Find Yourself in Everyone," is a practical Toolkit for a Healthy Environment, designed to give School of Medicine departments concrete, user-friendly tools for cultivating inclusion, addressing bias, and resolving conflict. Developed through a grant from the Health Servies Foundation, the Toolkit was created by the Office for Diversity & Inclusion with help from subject matter experts, and is housed on an independent website here.

All four modules for “The Common Thread” have been released. The four modules are: Building Belonging, Understanding Bias, Cultural Competency, and Conflict Resolution. Each module is deliverable in two different formats: a downloadable PowerPoint presentation and downloadable discussion sheets, and there a series of TEDTalk-style videos showcasing the PowerPoint contents. The videos for these presentations are divided into shorter segments of 7-8 minutes each, and feature Dr. Michael Saag, Dr. James Willig, Dr. Tony Jones, Evelyn Jones, and Laura Heider.

Currently, Dr. Mona Fouad, Evelyn Jones and Laura Heider are visiting each department to present one of the Toolkit modules during Grand Rounds. Several departments have already participated in one module, and several others, are slated to do so. The overarching goals are to begin meaningful dialogue on issues related to diversity and inclusion, and to introduce the functionality of the Toolkit.

Sometimes, when one reflects on their life and career, they can see the many things that led them to where they are today.

For Amber Clark, M.D., the steps that would guide her career journey started at a young age and would lead her to her latest accomplishment, one of twelve inaugural cohort members in a Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship.