Meet Our Team

Making Sure We Are “Walking the Walk”

At the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, we have created our own Diversity Workgroup, composed of team members who are passionate about setting and achieving new and bold diversity goals.

They play an active role in establishing specific DEI objectives, obtaining constant feedback and suggestions from our entire employee work force, challenging us to constantly reach higher, and ensuring we have the resources we need to be successful in reaching our goals.

Our Workgroup members also help ensure we are taking our own DEI mission statement and bringing it to life each and every day:

“The Thurston Arthritis Research Center affirms that diversity in its broadest sense – embracing a range of backgrounds and life experiences — is critical for our mission to leverage advanced research, education and clinical expertise to investigate the causes and consequences of arthritis, autoimmune diseases and allergies.

We are committed to fostering and sustaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive community, where all our members excel in a nurturing and supportive environment.”

Support from Senior Leadership…

We are passionate about maintaining and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment. That means ensuring we have the continued, active and enthusiastic support of our leadership, as well as active involvement from our entire team – regardless of individuals’ roles.

We are particularly excited about very positive steps that the UNC School of Medicine has recently taken in this regard, including the naming of Nate Thomas, PhD, Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Dr. Thomas and the UNC Office for Inclusive Excellence are actively promoting a dynamic DEI framework across the School of Medicine, which is helping to shape our collective, ongoing DEI efforts.

Learn more about the UNC School of Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the 5 components if its “Forward Together” Strategic Plan.