News & Events

First declared by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, Native American Heritage Month is a time set aside to honor the cultures, traditions, and histories of the Native American/Indigenous people.

Additionally, in commemorating this month, people can take time to learn about the different tribes and the unique challenges Native Americans face—both in the past and present.

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.

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!

Earlier this month, the School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion hosted a follow-up Racial Justice Town Hall.

During this session, moderators and panelists discussed how the Racial Justice Priorities were developed, the improvements that have been made, and what the future still holds.

Panelists included leadership, a School of Medicine staff representative, and ODI Faculty Association representatives.

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.

Ever wonder how women with high-demanding jobs have a work-life balance? Well, you may be surprised to learn that they don’t!

In the School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion’s upcoming Transforming Success® professional development program, program leaders from McDonald Graham—a duo that provides leadership development and coaching services—explain that work-life balance is a myth.

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.

The UAB School of Medicine Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) team is sponsoring a special topic forum—Diversity in Healthcare—during the month of October.

The special topics program committee, which consists of Ms. Erica Brown, Dr. Steven Hairston, and Dr. Leisha Hultgren, developed this forum with the vision of having a multi-day event where students are exposed to the who, what, when, and why’s of...

In Part 1 of our Caribbean American Heritage month series, we explained the importance of the culture in the U.S.; however, the impact can be felt much closer to home—on UAB’s campus.

For the last part of our series, we will show the breadth of Caribbean American heritage at UAB through three spotlighted individuals.

In part one of our series celebrating Caribbean-American heritage month, we introduced UAB’s own, Pauline Ford.

Pauline is the Program Coordinator for the Department of Radiology’s Neuroradiology Fellowship program. Outside of that, she is the founder of the Central Alabama Caribbean American Organization (CACAO).

The significance of commemorating heritage months can be felt on multiple levels. One way, alluded to by Pauline Ford, Program Coordinator for the UAB Department of Radiology’s Neuroradiology Fellowship program, stated that Caribbean people “have an indomitable spirit—a perspective that I think can benefit everyone.”

SOM Office for Diversity and Inclusion agrees with Ford, and since June is Caribbean American Heritage Month, we will spotlight the heritage and culture of Caribbean-Americans in the context of the U.S., Birmingham, and at UAB.

This article is the first in a series where we discuss the history and significance of Caribbean-Americans in the makeup of the United States. Then, each of the SOM newsletters throughout June will include a featured article to help you learn something new.

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.”

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.

The impact felt by interest groups and associations is often two-fold. First, these organizations develop a sense of camaraderie and shared belonging—elements that prove beneficial throughout one’s medical school training and career. Second, the awareness garnered by these groups helps educate people who may not have had exposure to different cultures and life experiences.

Currently, the UABSOM Office for Diversity and Inclusion’s Student Affairs office is home to groups and associations for a range of ethnic and gender diverse students, including the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), Asian Pacific Medical Student Association (APAMSA), MedPride, and American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA).

Now, with the help of Ala’a Abu-Spetani (MS3), Rabisa Khan (MS1), Shefa Suhaila (MS2), and Muhammad Amjad (MS3), we will be adding the first religious student interest group, Muslims in Medicine. Giving us a sneak preview of what we can expect from the new group is Ala’a Abu-Spetani.

Throughout April, a time also recognized as diversity month, the Office for Diversity & Inclusion will be facilitating unconscious bias training for leadership and supervisors.

Senior Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, Dr. Mona Fouad, explains, “By starting our training sessions with UAB managers, we aim to set the School of Medicine on a path toward inclusion for all—starting at the top.”

Hosted by Dr. Brian Gittens, this 90-minute virtual program will introduce team members to concepts and approaches for navigating unconscious bias.

Hello Everyone,

I want to wish you all a happy Women’s History month! As you probably know, before March was officially designated Women’s History Month in 1987, we celebrated March 8^th as International Women’s Day (IWD). But did you know the first IWD can be traced back to 1911?

Our mothers and grandmothers have actually advocated for gender equity in our country for hundreds of years, and the month of March is officially a time to reflect on their accomplishments and to advocate for equity around the world.

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.

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.

To celebrate and honor URiM faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in their careers, as well as emulated the Minorities in Medicine & Science principles, the UAB School of Medicine Office for Diversity & Inclusion created the Professional Excellence Award.

Winners of this award must have significant accomplishments within the past 1-3 years in at least one of the following areas: research, teaching, or service. Additionally, priority is given to individuals who help UAB School of Medicine create an environment where minorities in medicine choose to be.

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.