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.