Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Department of Medicine’s Business of Medicine Leadership Program  (BMLP) is designed to provide clinical faculty and emerging leaders with a professional development opportunity that increases business acumen, leadership skills and expertise.

The Health Equity in Research Scholars (HERS) program is a nine-month professional development program for faculty at IU School of Medicine. This program is co-sponsored by the I-CTSI, the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and IU Health’s Office of Health Equity Research and Engagement.

The Strategic Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program develops inclusive leaders. We will cover 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. The program will meet one Friday morning per month (September-December) for 1.5-2 hours. Prior to each in-person session, participants will engage in asynchronous online learning, during which they will utilize videos, readings, assignments, and discussion boards.

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. 

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 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.

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.

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 Equity and Inclusion Committee helps to hold the department accountable in meeting goals, discusses topics impacting individuals as well as professional development opportunities.

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. 

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.