Sylk Sotto, MBA, MPS, EDD, will depart Indiana University School of Medicine to join the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences as Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Development and Inclusive Excellence.
Sotto is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine as well as the department’s Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development and Vice Chair for Diversity, Health Equity, and Inclusion. She joined the department in 2015 as a lecturer but quickly and impressively rose through the ranks, becoming the first to hold these vice chair positions.
Since assuming these roles, she has made an immeasurable impact on the culture within the Department of Medicine by implementing a variety of new programs, building essential relationships across the school and beyond, and holding department leaders accountable to diversity and equity goals, said Chair David Aronoff, MD.
“While I am saddened by this loss to our leadership team, I am incredibly grateful for all Dr. Sotto has done to improve the culture within the Department of Medicine. I wish her the best of luck in the future, and I know she will go on to make amazing contributions at the University of Pittsburgh,” he said.
Chemen Neal, MD, the inaugural IU School of Medicine Executive Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice and Chief Diversity Officer, congratulated Sotto on the new position.
“Her attainment of this high-level position properly recognizes her accomplishments and respect as a national leader. She has made a tremendous impact within our institution, and I know she will transform the University of Pittsburg,” Neal said.
Sotto has held several important positions across IU School of Medicine during her tenure with the school.
In addition to her leadership roles in the Department of Medicine, she is also the Director of All IN for Health; the Chief Diversity Officer and the Co-Director of Workforce Development for the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI); and a faculty investigator for the IU Center for Bioethics.
Sotto is an IU Health affiliate faculty member for Health Equity Advancing through Learning health systems Research (HEAL-R); and an affiliate faculty member at the Indiana University-Bloomington National Institute for Transformation and Equity.
At the national level, Sotto has served as President of the Administrators in Internal Medicine (AIM); and on the Board of Directors and as Diversity and Inclusion liaison for the Alliance of Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM).
In addition to memberships in AIM and AAIM, she is actively involved in the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE); the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD); the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC); the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE); and the National Association of Medical Minority Educators (NAMME).
She has been awarded dozens of recognitions for her services and achievements in these fields. She regularly makes herself available for speaking engagements across the country because she cares deeply about educating others on diversity and equity topics.
Sotto’s influence here will be felt for years to come, and I know she will continue to make great strides in these areas of academia and medicine. I extend to her my deep appreciation, and I hope you will join me in wishing her well.
