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UNC SOM Statement on Equity and Inclusion

Equity and Inclusion: Joint UNC School of Medicine & Medical Center Statement of Institutional Priority

The UNC School of Medicine and UNC Medical Center are committed to improving the health of North Carolinians and others we serve through excellence in patient care, education and research. We aim to serve our patients expert care regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or socioeconomic background, and we strive to embrace equity and inclusive excellence through our actions, our policies and our culture.

With that in mind, we must commit ourselves to nurturing an environment that welcomes all people, regardless of background. Equity and inclusion in the workplace fosters creativity, innovation and teamwork. It leads to better access to care for underserved populations, policy changes to improve health disparity, and research in areas of societal need.

The School of Medicine and the Medical Center have long held these values and feel it is important to formalize them with following statement:

The University of North Carolina School of Medicine and the UNC Medical Center are committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace that enhances our learning environment, innovative research, and the quality of care available to all. We believe that a culture of equity and inclusion leads to new ways of thinking, behaving and caring.

We embrace the Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) definition of diversity, including the recognition that diversity is not limited to gender, race and ethnicity, but must also include age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious commitment, physical ability and other varied backgrounds and life experiences.

Together, the UNC School of Medicine and the UNC Medical Center strive to recruit, retain, and develop a diverse group of individuals to ensure a vibrant community that promotes excellence in education, discovery, clinical care and the elimination of health disparities locally, regionally and nationally.