Hispanic Leadership in Academic Medicine Series
Implications and Opportunities for Education, Research and Patient Care
In Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we will host two Q&A sessions moderated by M2 Farheen Zaman from the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) student interest group. This event, featuring senior leaders Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., and Silvia Munoz Price, M.D., Ph.D., is designed to bring forth the importance of Hispanic leadership in academic medicine and how the lack thereof could have negative implications in education, research and patient care. Both events will be held at the MMEC Learning Theater.
Session #1: Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D. - Dean of the VCU School of Medicine
Wednesday, Oct. 11, 4. – 5 p.m.
Learn more and register here
Session #2: Silvia Munoz Price, M.D., Ph.D. - Chief Quality and Safety Officer for VCU Health
Thursday, Oct. 12, 4. – 5 p.m.
Learn more and register here

Campus-Wide Events
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Oct. 17, Oct. 23
LGBTQ+ History Month: Safe Zone Training
Tuesday, Oct. 17, noon. – 2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 23, 3 – 5 p.m.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and University Counseling Services will host a Safe Zone training event. Open to all, the training will provide didactic and experiential opportunities for participants to:
- Increase their awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual (LGBTQQIA+) communities and identities.
- Deepen their understanding of sex, gender and sexuality, while also considering other intersecting identities (e.g., race, ethnicity, religious/spiritual orientation).
- Recognize the unique concerns/challenges (e.g., heterosexism, biphobia, transphobia) that LGBTQQIA+ (or Queer) people endure at VCU and in society at large.
- Build skills to advocate for and assist Queer staff and students with concerns that might emerge on campus.
- Examine and challenge their biases, assumptions, prejudice and privilege in relation to different sexual and gender identities.
Virtual session: Tuesday, Oct. 17, noon – 2 p.m.
In person session: Monday, Oct. 23, 3 – 5 p.m.
In person session will be held in MMEC, room 3-101 -
Sept. 28
Health Sciences Interprofessional Pride Mixer
Thursday, Sept. 28, noon – 2 p.m.
The School of Medicine's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is partnering with related groups to host a health sciences interprofessional pride mixer. Open to all students, faculty and staff, the mixer will provide opportunities for participants to embrace community as we strive to increase LGBTQIA+ visibility in the health sciences.
This event will be held at the Main Hospital building, room 1-422
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Sept. 27
Health and History Symposium 2023: New Perspectives on Health Equity through the Humanities
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Co-organized by the Office of Health Equity and Humanities Research Center, the 2023 Health and History Symposium will explore the history of medicine across different disciplines related to health care and highlight how the humanities can bring together interdisciplinary teams to challenge local health inequities. Discussion topics will include the East Marshall Street Well Project, Black maternal health and how to harness the power of humanities to mitigate health disparities.
Held at the Library of Virginia (800 E. Broad St., Richmond), the event is free and open to all.
DEI in the News
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Dialogue: What We Believe
We reaffirm the core values of human dignity and of mutual, unconditional respect, and we acknowledge our responsibility to condemn racism and all forms of discrimination.
Our students, trainees, faculty, staff, alumni and community members are valued partners who provide essential perspective and context for how we more forthrightly conduct this work. Listening is the first step in making meaningful change, and we are inspired and humbled by the feedback and engagement from our School of Medicine community.
Action: What We Are Doing
We are collaborating across our campus, health system and university to foster a welcoming community that supports and values people of all cultural backgrounds and life experiences and makes our medical school a more diverse and representative place to work.
Cultivating such an environment is essential to the fulfillment of our mission to improve the quality of health care for humanity, and we are committed to engaging in dialogue across the breadth of our community to fuel our short-term, mid-range and long-term actions.
Engagement
Where We Are Headed
As a pivotal step in turning dialogue into action, the School of Medicine is proud to announce its inaugural Inclusion Council. Members include students, trainees, faculty, staff, alumni and community members who are dedicated to this vital journey.
We remain committed to communicating openly and forthrightly about pertinent developments and activities moving forward, and we welcome your continued input, advocacy and engagement.
Learn more about other efforts to address race, diversity, equity and inclusion across VCU’s campuses and in the community.
DEI Resources