Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Department of Medicine strives for inclusive excellence. Inclusive excellence is the practice of assuring equity and inclusion in all matters pertaining to faculty, trainees and staff, as well as the continuous examination of departmental practices and operations. It is the recognition that the department’s success is dependent on how we value, engage and include the rich diversity of faculty, trainees, staff and alumni.

Additional details can be found in our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan for 2021-2023.

Read the Plan

Featured Event

Summer Series on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

“Impact of Skin Pigmentation on Pulse Oximetry” David Sterken, MD, of Uni. of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and Francesca Duncan, MD, MS, of IU School of Medicine.

Online- Zoom

Programs

Strategic Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program

This new program develops inclusive leaders. The program covers a series of topics including: developing common language and consensus; diagnosing institutional bias; EDI organizational frameworks; best practices in recruitment and retention; inclusive communication; change management; and more.

Initiatives

Commitment to Diversity of Speakers

In 2019, the department launched the "50/50 by 2020" initiative to strengthen its commitment to ensuring that, by 2020, 50% of speakers featured in Grand Rounds and other departmental or divisional conferences would be women or others who are underrepresented in medicine. The department is proud to share that it met this goal, and has continued to maintain this balance since 2020.
The Bias Reduction in Internal Medicine (BRIM) Initiative

The department is participating in the BRIM Initiative, an NIH-funded study out of the University of Wisconsin that is examining the impact of implicit bias in over twenty departments of medicine nationwide. The initiative provides anti-bias training to our faculty and builds capacity by training department facilitators. At the end of the study—in approximately two years—the department will receive a report that includes an assessment of its culture, climate and bias.

Opportunities

Inclusive Excellence Award

The goal of this annual award is to recognize faculty, trainees, and staff for outstanding efforts and achievements in diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competence that advance health equity and inclusive pedagogy, environments, and practices.
Promoting Inclusive Excellence (PIE) Grants

The Promoting Inclusion and Equity (PIE) Grant program supports faculty engaged in work that advances the department’s goal toward creating a more diverse, inclusive, equitable, and just environment.

The Beat

Carrie Leathers, MD, awarded PIE Grant

Dr. Leathers will evaluate the impact of promoting diversity and inclusion through children's literature in the pediatric clinic.

Hannah Calkins | Apr 27, 2022

The Beat

The 2023 Summer Series on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Summer Series on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion begins on June 9 with a talk by Dr. Elizabeth Toll.

Hannah Calkins | Apr 26, 2023

Events

Summer Series on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Summer Series on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion features speakers and productive, interactive discussions on an array of topics. Recordings of past events are available on YouTube.
Department of Medicine / IU Health Joint Book Club

This book club was launched in spring 2021 to facilitate a strong connection between our two organizations and to encourage thoughtful conversations around issues of equity, diversity, inclusion and justice at the intersection of medicine.

Affinity Groups

Women in Medicine and Science

This group meets on a monthly basis to discuss issues impacting women within the department and throughout the School of Medicine. It features regular speakers, discussions, and an annual book club. Events are open to women-identified members of the Department of Medicine.