Current BCBP DEI efforts as of October 2022
Access and Success Sub-committee
(Chair Gaby Arias)
Create and sustain an institutional infrastructure that effectively supports progress in achieving DEI goals in the University and SOM Strategic Plans.
- Objectives: Achieve increased enrollments of underrepresented and underserved student populations; Foster the academic success of underrepresented and underserved student populations; Increase the diversity and success of diverse trainees (residents, fellows, post docs); Increase the diversity and success of diverse faculty and staff.
- Progress: We are collaborating with Department of Microbiology and Immunology to develop a foundation for BCBP peer-mentor network. This includes guidelines, how to establish as an organization at UNC, as well as funding avenues. We are also developing a survey about the peer-mentor network that will be circulated to the department soon.
Climate and Intra/Intergroup Relations Sub-committee
(Chair Thanh Nguyen Phan)
Increase the diversity and success of our student body, faculty, trainees, and staff.
- Objectives: Foster a supportive and respectful climate that values differing perspectives and experiences, including climate assessments, workshops, trainings, and programs.
- Progress: We have been active in organizing different cultural events and spreading cultural awareness on these celebrations. We have also distributed weekly events within the department via the Chair’s Weekly Message and the BCBP DEI website, including UNC hosted events or those off-campus. We are working on switching the platform to a monthly distribution or a weekly DEI email and organize get-togethers to highlight cultural groups within the department. We are working towards approval for the climate survey to be distributed to trainees within the department.
Curriculum and Scholarship Sub-committee
(Chair Rick Baker)
Engage students, faculty, staff, and trainees in learning and scholarship (research, teaching, service) that integrates social justice with anti-racism components that promote equity and the reduce inequities in the biomedical workforce.
- Objectives: Highlight outstanding role models from all segments of the population for invitation to department activities; Diversify the BCBP departmental seminar series
- Progress: We have been awarded a grant from a pilot program at UNC to foster DEI activities across campus. This award allowed us to plan a DEI-focused career panel at the upcoming BCBP Department retreat. The panel consists of BCBP alumni Dr. Stephanie Page, Director of Strategic Initiatives at WEPAN, and Dr. Brooke Heidenfelder, project leader at Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute, as well as our retreat keynote Speaker Dr. Mary Munson, Professor and Assistant Vice Provost of Health Equity at UMass Medical School.
Community Engagement Sub-committee
(Chair Holly Shepherd)
Provide leadership that connects diverse people and groups in and outside the organization by establishing partnerships that promote positive system change and reduce bias, alienation, and decisions that have unintentional consequences on underrepresented and vulnerable groups.
- Objectives: Provide collaboration in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within and between departments or groups to optimize and synergize efforts to support diverse underrepresented populations; Increase outreach to historically and underserved/diverse populations throughout the state to increase UNC’s impact academically, psychosocially, and/or financially.
- Progress: We have distributed a survey to department members to collect information about community engagement activities individuals have participated in at UNC and in the surrounding community. The survey results were used to highlight individual activities and guide the committee’s planning for future departmental community engagement activities.