Equity and Inclusion
UNC School of Medicine Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
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.
Who We Serve: The Psychiatry Residency shares the School of Medicine’s mission to serve all the people of the state of North Carolina, encompassing a wide range of socioeconomic class, language, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and health conditions. Towards this aim, our residents and faculty serve in a variety of settings with diverse patient populations, including:
- El Futuro, a non-profit psychiatry clinic for Spanish-speaking individuals
- UNC SHAC Mental Health, a free clinic for those in the local community with limited resources
- Various Assertive Community Treatment teams throughout the state of North Carolina, serving those with the most severe, persistent mental illnesses and often among the least privileged and most vulnerable members of the community
- Community Clinics throughout undeserved town and cities across North Carolina
Karon Dawkins, M.D. Director, General Psychiatry Residency Training Program
Winston Li, M.D. Associate Residency Training Director
UNC School of Medicine Selected as a 2022 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award Winner! The School of Medicine was recognized for its robust DEI infrastructure across campus, numerous efforts designed to provide education and training opportunities for the next generation of doctors, basic science researchers, health scientist, and rural initiatives that improve access to care for all North Carolinians.
As a recipient of the annual Health Professions HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — the School of Medicine will be featured, along with 64 other recipients, in the December 2022 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.