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Perspectives

This Perspectives section of Faculty Vitae poses a provocative question to a particular AAMC Professional Development Group. This month's question: Perspectives on developing minority affairs or diversity offices ws presented to the AAMC Minority Affairs Section. If you are trying to open a minority affairs office or expand on existing initiatives, read further for lessons learned.

Perspectives on Developing Minority Affairs/Diversity Offices

Question:
Starting in 1977, U.S. medical school Deans were asked to designate a minority affairs representative to serve as a liaison to the AAMC. Today every medical school has a representative. How did these minority affairs/diversity offices get started?

Reply from Mekbib Gemeda, Director, Office of Diversity Affairs, New York University School of Medicine

The Office of Diversity Affairs at the New York University School of Medicine was established in 1993. Its objective was to implement a systematic effort to address underrepresentation of minorities in Biomedicine. Although The New York University School of Medicine has been a pioneer in training women and minorities in biomedicine, a concerted and enhanced institutional effort was necessary to make an impact on the paucity of medical trainees from underrepresented groups. The office's role was to establish an energetic recruiting and retention program to ensure the success of students in training. These efforts have produced a tremendous increase in the number of underrepresented minority students joining the school and succeeding in completing the program. Further impetus is underway to broaden the role of the office in supporting diversity initiatives in all areas of the school and the hospital center. The Dean's comprehensive initiative on diversity, which will soon be deployed, underlines the historic commitment of the New York School of Medicine and Hospital Center to provide excellent, innovative patient-care and biomedical training to a diverse urban population.

Reply from Brenda D. Lee, Assistant Dean for Medical Education and Student Affairs; Assistant Professor - Division of the Medical Humanities
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry:

In the early 1980's, an External Advisory Committee composed of Rochester area African-American physicians and leaders recommended that an Associate Dean be appointed to establish an Office for Minority Affairs. While Carol Moore, Ph.D. was the first Associate Dean appointed, Robert Rivers, M.D., a Professor of Surgery at the School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD), was the Associate Dean who established the programs and initiatives that defined the mission of the office. His responsibilities included recruiting faculty, house staff, and students, as well as designing and overseeing pipeline programs for high school and undergraduate students. When Dr. Rivers retired in the late 1980's, Kenneth Woodward, M.D. (Pediatrics) was appointed. After several years of service he retired and Jose Bayona, M.D. (Family Medicine) became the next Associate Dean. Dr. Bayona advocated for broadening the mission of the Office (to include a curricular emphasis) and recommended that the Office's name be changed to the Office for Ethnic and Multicultural Affairs (OEMA). Given Dr. Bayona's links to the Rochester Latino community, new initiatives were started to increase the number of Latinos at the SMD. In the fall of 2004 the mission of the former OEMA was included in the SMD's new Center for Advocacy, Community Health, Education and Diversity (CACHED). Gladys Pedraza-Burgos serves as the Co-Director of the Center and the AAMC MAS liaison.