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At five minutes to noon on February 5, Spain Auditorium was already filling to capacity as School of Medicine faculty, administration, students, residents and staff gathered to listen to Dr. David Satcher discuss the importance of diversity in medicine as part of the Diversity Day celebration for UAB School of Medicine.

As School of Medicine faculty, staff, and students settled into their seats, Dr. Mona Fouad, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion in the School of Medicine, introduced Dr. Satcher. She noted that the native Alabamian became the president of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1982 after completing his medical degree and earning a PhD in chromosome genetics. He appeared on the national stage in 1993 when he assumed the position of Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 1997, President Bill Clinton nominated Satcher to become the 16th Surgeon General of the United States, a position he held until 2002. He currently serves as the Founding Director and Senior Advisor of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine.

“Diversity is a taboo word,” said Feranmi Okanlami, MD, MS, addressing an audience of UAB Medicine employees. “I asked people yesterday, ‘What is it that you feel when someone says, “diversity”?’ I know, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, certain people out there get uncomfortable. They think that you’re talking about bringing people who aren’t qualified in to replace people that are. . .  the conversation to be had is not that this side is right, and this side is wrong, but that there is right and wrong on both sides of the fence.”

Dr. Okanlami’s address was the result of a collaboration between the School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion’s Diversity Grand Rounds and Nursing Schwartz Rounds. The January 26 lecture was one of the key events of Diversity Weekend, which coincided with second look weekend for resident applicants. The unique nature of the joint event between the School of Medicine and Nursing allowed Okanlami’s message broader reach.Oluwaferanmi “Feranmi” Okanlami was born in Nigeria before immigrating to the United States with his parents at a young age. His significant academic achievements earned him a spot at Stanford University for his undergraduate education, where he majored in Honors Interdisciplinary Studeis in the Humanities for PreMed students with an eye toward attending medical school. He ran Track & Field all four years, captaining the team his last two seasons, and achieving Academic All American recognition.

Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH, Founding Director of the Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center and Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the UAB School of Medicine, was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine on October 13, 2018. Fouad’s husband, Fouad Fouad, their two daughters, and Selwyn Vickers, M.D., FACS, senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the UAB School of Medicine, attended the induction ceremony. 

This exceptional honor, which is considered one of the highest attainable 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. 

Fouad was the first person elected to the National Academy of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in two decades. Her 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 National Institutes of Health (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. Her work as the founding director of the Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) at UAB has given her the opportunity to impact the way health disparities research and interventions are conducted not only in the United States, but around the globe. 

Raised in a home that emphasized higher education and professional achievements, Dr. Raegan Durant was continually surrounded by a family that motivated and supported him to pursue his dreams. From an early age, Durant had already begun talking to and making connections with local Montgomery doctors. This exposure to the profession allowed him to learn about the longitudinal relationships found in medicine, most commonly as a primary care physician. By the time he left for college, Durant knew his passion had laid somewhere in medicine.

At the end of 2020, the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion spotlighted medical student Lamario Williams. In this article, Williams talked about his decision to create a non-profit, the DUBS Foundation. 

Since the initial conversation, Williams was able to navigate and adapt the DUBS Foundation to fit the changing needs of students and teachers during the pandemic.

This year, the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion and UAB Health System Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, hosted its first annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Event.


This two-part virtual seminar focused on exploring The Intersection of Social Justice and Health Care.

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022, the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion hosted a Faculty Association Networking Event at City Club Birmingham.

The event, which took place in the early evening, aimed to facilitate a space for members of the different associations to meet and reconnect after a years-long pandemic. As hors d’oeuvres were served, guests mingled with familiar faces and new arrivals. It was attended by over 80 people and showed the true strength of this office, which is its diverse connections.

Program and speakers

Attendees were welcomed by Anupam Agarwal M.D., Interim Senior Vice President Medicine & Dean HSOM, who highlighted how important the work of the ODI is and how each person in the room contributed to the changing landscape of the field of medicine in the best way possible.

It was then the turn of Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Heersink School of Medicine, to take to the podium and echoed what Agarwal stated and added that reconnection is the main aim of this event, which was feeling shared throughout the room.

The next speaker, Raegan Durant, M.D., MPH, Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Heersink School of Medicine, applauded everyone in the room’s commitment to achieving excellence through diversity while fostering a campus environment conducive to the success of all students, trainees, and faculty.

Location and venue

The event took place in the beautiful City Club Birmingham rooftop event space. This provided a central location for all attendees to arrive after work and offered breathtaking views of the city.

Key Takeaways

As more in-person events make their way into our calendars, it’s important to remember how valuable they are to the human experience of working together towards a joint goal. A photo was taken to mark the evening, which will surely be a highlight for many.

In an increasingly global medical environment, the pursuit of excellence through diversity is not a simple accent to the medical profession – it is an imperative. In recognition of this growing reality, the UAB School of Medicine, the SOM’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion, and the office for Graduate Medical Education combined Second Look Weekend for prospective medical residents with the annual celebration of Diversity Day. The events were launched with a reception on the evening of February 4, which included a pre-reception gathering for minority resident applicants and a Minority Faculty Reception in the Gold Room at The Club.

Diversity and Inclusion—a core component of UAB’s mission—takes form in the Office of Graduate Medical Education (GME) and the Office for Diversity and Inclusion's (ODI) Mentorship Program, UAB Connect.

UAB Connect offers mentorship matching for students and house staff who come from racial and ethnic minorities that are traditionally underrepresented in medicine (URiM). Through this portal, students can find meaningful mentorships by simply entering in their information and having faculty members who fit that criteria instantly displayed on the screen. From there, students can read more about each mentor or contact them directly.

The last few years have witnessed a significant expansion of graduate medical education efforts at UAB School of Medicine in order to increase the recruitment and retention of residents and fellows who belong to groups that are under-represented in medicine. The Dean’s Committee for Graduate Medical Education (DCGME) Subcommittee for Diversity and inclusion has not only sponsored events to increase community among under-represented trainees, but has also initiated crucial research-based strategy initiatives.

Recruitment and retention of a diverse body of residents and fellows is a challenge for most, if not all, academic medical centers in the United States. A myriad of structural and social obstacles means that women, members of the LGBTQ community, religious minorities, and racial and ethnic minorities are often under-represented in medical school classes. This initial under-representation carries forward into training.

In 2018, Latesha Elopre, M.D., and Marquita Hicks, M.D., conducted comprehensive qualitative research in order to understand why some trainees were choosing UAB, and others were matching with other institutions for their residencies. In addition to analyzing themes related to graduate medical education recruitment at UAB, researchers examined data and recommendations from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). 

September Might Be Over, but Our Gratitude Is Year-Long. 

A few weeks ago, we announced and shared our excitement for Women in Medicine month. To commemorate this time, we asked leadership from each department in the School of Medicine to submit the names of women whose contributions have instrumental in helping UAB fight COVID-19. 

Regardless of title or job position, we want to extend our sincerest thank you to all women at UAB who help keep our school and hospital running. This video is for you.

Elizabeth Ofili, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine, presented a special keynote address in honor of International Women’s Day at the Medical Grand Rounds held on Wednesday, March 1, co-hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Medicine and the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion (Heersink ODI).

The Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion hosted a commemoration event honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. on Friday, January 13, 2023, at The Spain Wallace Auditorium. The occasion embodied this year’s theme, “Together We Can Be THE Dream,” by showing attendees what they can achieve and highlighting what has already been accomplished.

Learn Serve Lead 2022: The AAMC Annual Meeting

The AAMC Annual Conference brought together more than 4,200 members of the academic medical community in Nashville, Tennessee, from November 11 until 15, 2022. Leaders were ready to reconnect with colleagues and immerse themselves in group learning. 

What lies ahead in medical education, biomedical research, health justice, mental health, climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion dominated this year's trending issues. 

Since the inception of the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity & Inclusion, we have been striving to create a more diverse and inclusive place for all. To do this, we take an active role in recruiting people from diverse backgrounds. As we continue to bring more people from underrepresented in medicine (URiM) and minority groups, it becomes equally important that we cultivate an institutional climate that supports and nurtures their development.

Helping us facilitate this goal are our faculty associations.

Have you ever wondered how the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion (HSOM ODI) determines if we're on the right track and where we have the most opportunities for improvement with our mission of increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion? To find these answers, we participated in the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)Council of Deans Collective Action Initiative -Diversity, Inclusion, Culture, and Equity Inventory (DICE).

What is DICE?

DICE Inventory is an opportunity to review institutional policies, practices, procedures, and programs that impact the climate and culture around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). AAMC’s Council of Deans Collective Action Initiative requires participating medical schools to implement the DICE Inventory and report the results to be shared in nationally aggregated data. This initiative responds to the academic medicine community's desire for concrete action, accountability, and accelerated meaningful change. To do this, the inventory includes 89 questions grouped within six content areas and divided into 15 sub-content areas.

Why participate?

The motivations to participate were twofold. First, the school leadership wanted a fact-based assessment of DEI efforts; secondly, they wanted to make a national commitment to advancing DEI at the school. Participating in the Council of Deans Collective Action Initiative allowed us to accomplish both goals.

Our work with DICE was led by Mona Fouad, MD, senior associate dean in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in the Heersink School of Medicine, and facilitated by Leisha Hultgren, Ph.D., director in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in the Heersink School of Medicine.

Reflecting on her work, Hultgren said, "As the facilitator, I guided members of the implementation team in one-on-one discussions around the DICE Inventory questions to better understand where the institution is situated on the path to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion. During these conversations, team members provided supporting evidence from programs, practices, and policies at the school to support responses to the questions. These conversations were so meaningful because they created opportunities to reflect on our growth and opportunities for continuous improvement.”

Key findings and takeaways

The HSOM's overall DICE score of 80.9% puts us at the “substantial effort level.” This is calculated from 72 “yes” and 17 “no” answers. It would be easy for the ODI to focus only on the “green lights” (positive areas), as this is no small achievement. But it is essential to take a holistic approach that doesn’t shy away from opportunities for improvement. For instance, the inventory reveals two “red lights” or areas for improvement. One of those areas refers to Staff Recruitment and Development. In this area, ODI is developing new initiatives recommended by Heersink Staff Diversity Liaisons to be in place for 2023. The second red light relates to Students’ DEI Valued Curricular and Co-curricular Experiences. Discussions are already underway, and new initiatives will be finalized when developing the diversity and inclusion strategic plan.

In summary, Fouad states, “After I identified Dr. Hultgren as the discussion facilitator, we established a collaborative process with an implementation team that drew on talented perspectives from the school to complete the DICE Inventory. These conversations allowed us to understand better where we are doing well and areas where we can improve. The inventory has given us a clear set of achievements and goals.”

On Friday, September 30, 2022, the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion—in partnership with its student affairs team and UAB Medicine—hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month Event at Miami Fusion.

The event took place on a cool autumn evening and celebrated Hispanic culture at UAB with good food, music, and dancing. Sweet and savory snacks from Cuban sandwiches and Lechon Asado to plantains were set out in a beautiful spread for guests to enjoy in a buffet style as the bar poured festive cocktails.

After fueling up, students, faculty, and staff mingled and flowed up the stairs to the upper level, which served as a salsa dance floor and music-filled gathering space complete with a DJ. The popular event was attended by over 200 people and showcased the Hispanic culture in a way that will be remembered for a long time.

Salsa dancing and beautiful displays

Attendees were surrounded by beautiful displays of different Hispanic countries like Cuba and important historical figures like the famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. There were also salsa instructors on-site to teach attendees how to participate in the popular dance that finds its origins in the Hispanic world.

More about the local business that was supported

The event took place at Miami Fusion, run by Chef Delgado, which brings Caribbean delicacies—with a specialization in traditional Cuban and Puerto Rican dishes—to the Birmingham metro region. His family-owned restaurant has been in the community for almost a decade. Chef Delgado was raised in Havana's little South Florida community and was born in Puerto Rico.

This event was an educational opportunity and a fun gathering for new and old friends. Attendees were encouraged to share tasty cuisine and the dance floor. As many can attest, some of the best ways to embody cultural diversity are doing, moving, eating, and learning.

The annual Howard University College of Medicine Residency Fair is a unique experience that allows medical students to speak with dozens of representatives in one day. Last month, over 80 specialty programs gathered to share their residency and research opportunities with potential applicants. UAB joined academic medical centers from across the country, including Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic, to connect with future physicians and health care industry leaders.

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences," ― Audre Lorde

Along with the nation, the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion mourns the loss of five lives tragically cut short at Club Q in Colorado Springs. This mass shooting, which has sent shockwaves through the world, also left 25 people injured. 

The names of the five who did not survive the attack are:
• Raymond Green Vance (he/him)
• Kelly Loving (she/her)
• Daniel Aston (he/him)
• Derrick Rump (he/him)
• Ashley Paugh (she/ her)

We hold members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially those in our school, close to our hearts during this time of incredible loss. 

An incident such as this calls for a moment of reflection on what it means to create a welcoming and safe space. It’s more than being accepting and respectful of those different from us. It’s making sure that offices, campuses, classrooms, and discussions align with the institution's mission of inclusivity. It’s not tolerating homophobia or discrimination, but as a community and as individuals, supporting all community members.

For those whom this senseless act of violence has deeply impacted, please remember that you are not alone. Employees can reach out to the UAB Employee Assistance & Counseling Center.  For students and graduate students who are looking for community in times like these, please contact MedPride and MedPride GME, respectively. 

Faculty are also reminded of the LGBTQ+ Faculty Association, a part of the Heersink School of Medicine's Office for Diversity and Inclusion, led by Rodney Tucker, M.D., MMM, -which  offers many resources for education and collaboration. 

As we simultaneously celebrate the holiday season, please keep your loved ones close and hold on to hope for an accepting and peaceful future. 

Sincerely, 
Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH, and Rodney Tucker, M.D, MMM

This past fall, the School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion established a Racial Justice Work Group to help us identify priorities for our school. Of the priorities identified, one specifically called to increase support and programming for the professional advancement of staff. To help us advance this priority, our office formed a group of Staff Diversity Liaisons to represent underrepresented staff (non-faculty) minorities in the school.