GSA Student Diversity Affairs

The GSA student diversity affairs community is open to faculty and professional staff working in student diversity affairs at AAMC member medical schools. The work of the medical school admissions community is led by the Committee on Student Diversity Affairs (COSDA). COSDA provides guidance on medical student diversity and inclusivity on a local, regional, and national basis, with respect to student recruitment, admissions, retention, and graduation.

Access Student Diversity Affairs Resources

COSDA Committee Charge

The strategic priorities of COSDA are defined under two overarching themes — increasing diversity in the physician workforce and professional development of its constituency. In order to meet the strategic priorities, COSDA advances the full cycle of student engagement and educational support spanning the K-12 through medical school educational continuum in order to increase diversity in the physician workforce. COSDA constituents provide programming and services to engage and support diverse learners in the K-12 pathway, premedical and postbaccalaureate programs, and medical school. They are involved in outreach, recruitment, admissions, retention, support, and graduation of diverse students in medicine. The committee is advisory to the GSA Steering Committee, makes regular reports to the GSA Steering Committee, and seeks approval of the GSA Steering Committee for special projects.

Donna H. Jackson, EdD [she/her/hers]
Interim Senior Associate Dean, Admissions & Student Outreach
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

On behalf of the committee, it is my honor to welcome you to the Group on Student Affairs (GSA) Committee on Student Diversity Affairs (COSDA). I am excited to begin working with the Student Diversity Affairs community and others who have primary responsibility to advance diversity efforts. We want to continually view all aspects of undergraduate medical education through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens that will allow our students to thrive and be successful.

COSDA, as one of the five national committees of the GSA, meets regularly to address issues and offer guidance on medical student diversity in student recruitment, admissions, enrollment, retention, and graduation. We host community calls for COSDA representatives as a means to disseminate information and to gather feedback. In addition, COSDA works in collaboration with the other national committees on pertinent issues that cross administrative areas, often participating in working groups and joint community calls.
To ensure advocacy of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the medical education space, COSDA also engages with the Group on Diversity Affairs (GDI) and other AAMC affinity groups.

Dr. Ann-Gel Palermo has given great leadership to COSDA over the last four years as the national chair of COSDA . Her energy and passion for this work is contagious and moves everyone around her to push forward in our efforts. We thank her for leadership and for her encouragement and support of COSDA as we continue the work. We also wish to thank COSDA members who have recently completed their terms, Dr. Natalie Johnson and Dr. Princess Currence, who provided important insights and perspective through their roles on the committee.

We recognize that COSDA functions in an efficient and effective manner due the efforts of a wonderful AAMC team. Thank you for all you do to aid the committee in its success.

Finally, we welcome your interest in the work of COSDA and the Student Diversity Affairs community. We know that there is value in creating a diverse medical education environment that benefits all students. Please contact COSDA with any ideas, proposals, or comments that might be of interest to the COSDA leadership and membership.

COSDA Committee Roster

Chair

Donna H. Jackson, EdD
Interim Senior Associate Dean, Admissions & Student Outreach
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
November 2022–November 2025

GSA National Previous Past Chair

Hilit Mechaber, MD
Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
University of Miami College of Medicine
November 2024–November 2025

Central Region (CGSA) Representative

Khalilah Gates, MD
Assistant Dean of Learning and Academic Performance
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
November 2024–November 2027

Northeastern Region (NEGSA) Representative

Daniel José Correa, MD, MSc, FAAN
Associate Dean for Diversity Enhancement
Associate Professor of Neurology
University of Massachusetts T. H. Chan Medical School
November 2024–November 2027

Southern Region (SGSA) Representative

Sekinat Kassim McCormick, MD
Assistant Dean, Office of Academic Opportunity and Educational Excellence
Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
November 2023–November 2026

Western Region (WGSA) Representative

Erik D. Malmberg, PhD, JD
Assistant Dean for Equity and Medical Student Engagement
Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Family Medicine
University of Washington School of Medicine
November 2024–November 2027

Liaison to the Committee on Admissions (COA)

Robin Clay, MEd
Associate Director of Admissions
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine
November 2024–November 2027

Liaison to the Committee on Student Affairs (COSA)

Kristin Powell Reavis, MD, MBS
Assistant Dean for Student Diversity and Inclusion
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine
November 2022–November 2025

Liaison to the Committee on Student Financial Assistance (COSFA)

Ranna Nash, PhD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical Education
Assistant Dean for Student Development
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
November 2022–November 2025

Liaison to the Committee on Student Records (COSR)

Laventrice Ridgeway, EdD, ALC
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
Whiddon College of Medicine, University of South Alabama
November 2024–November 2027

Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) Liaison

Mary J. Owen, MD
Associate Dean of Native American Health
Director, Center of American Indian and Minority Health
Associate Professor, Dept. of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health
University of Minnesota Medical School
March 2023–March 2025

AAMC Staff Liaison

Irena Tartakovsky, MD, MS
Director, Constituent Engagement

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