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The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Occupational Medicine is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, to the benefit of our patients, trainees, faculty, staff, and employees.

Underrepresented in Pulmonary

The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Occupational Medicine is committed to fostering a more diverse and inclusive environment, to the benefit of our patients, trainees, faculty, staff, and employees. It is our goal that our division become more reflective of the patient population we serve, acknowledging the importance of this in regard to understanding differing cultural and linguistic values, as well as establishing trust with our patients. Not only is diversity and inclusion important in our learning and work environments, but it is also important in the design and conduct of clinical research. For this reason, our Division Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee has challenged all to be more aware of and consider the impact of differing socioeconomic factors on the development of disease(s) and clinical outcomes in our research. There is an institutional emphasis on equitable representation among those from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine (URiM). We recognize equity in recruitment, retention, and promotion which is paramount for the advancement of the field of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. This is achieved by championing system-wide efforts to identify barriers experienced by URiM individuals and addressing the inequities that may hinder their advancement.

One way this is done is by bridging the research and scholarship gap by providing targeted funding opportunities for pilot studies, as well as community, and nationally funded grants. Additionally, early career faculty are encouraged to participate in career development programs to include mentorship and grant writing workshops to aid in career advancement. Another important goal of the division is in cultivating a mentorship network of both personal and professional mentors for those URiM as this has been shown to increase scholarly productivity and career satisfaction. Lastly, our Department of Medicine has supported URiM faculty by creating leadership opportunities, for example our very own Dr. Francesca Duncan serves as Co-Chair of Equity and Inclusion in the Department of Medicine.

Support the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee in Pulmonary

As our DEI Committee in Pulmonary continues to thrive and expand, more opportunities are on the horizon.

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Our Core Mission

To create an inclusive and equitable environment for all faculty, trainees, and staff in our division.

In the Media

The section below highlights the work of a few research scientist/physician scientist, clinicians, and a PhD candidate within the division. It is important to both highlight and celebrate the excellent research and superb care being provided by underrepresented individuals who work within the Pulmonary Division.

The Beat

Dr. Edwin Jackson Named 2022-2023 Dexter Fellow

Dr. Jackson will develop a curriculum to develop expertise in Point of Care Ultrasound, addressing a critical deficiency in skills among clinicians.

Hannah Calkins  |  May 25, 2022

Women in Medicine

Lockett, PhD Awarded KO1

After contributing to pulmonary research throughout her training and early investigator years, Dr. Lockett recently received a Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K01) and a PRIDE AGOLD Institute Award to pursue her own research goals.

Makenna Flory  |  Nov 16, 2022

The Beat

Gabriel Maldonado-Velez, mentored by Dr. Michaela Aldred, Shares the Inspiration Behind his Research

Gabriel Maldonado Velez was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where he completed his undergraduate studies before moving to the mainland USA to pursue a Ph.D. in Medical and Molecular Genetics. Currently, he is a Ph.D. Candidate under the mentorship of Dr. Micheala A. Aldred.

Makenna Flory  |  Nov 17, 2022

Women in Medicine

Francesca Duncan, MD on Health Care Disparities and Medical Education Surrounding Racism

Francesca Duncan, MD research interests include health disparities in lung cancer. Her work includes an exciting new field coined "social epigenomics" which has emerged as an integrative field of research focused on the identification of socio-environmental factors, their influence on human biology through epigenomic modifications, and how they contribute to current health disparities in lung cancer.

Makenna Flory  |  Nov 07, 2022

Underrepresented in Pulmonary Stats

35% Of Faculty are Underrepresented
40% Of Trainees are Underrepresented

bar chart shows improvement in diversity of faculty and staff

The graph shows the number of Underrepresented (UR) in Pulmonary Faculty and Staff in recent years, 2020-2022. In 2020, there was one UR Research Faculty, four UR Clinical Faculty, and ten UR Lab Staff/Post Docs. In 2021, there was one UR Research Faculty, thirteen UR Clinical Faculty, and nine UR Lab Staff/Post Docs. In 2022, there are two UR Research Faculty, twenty-one UR Clinical Faculty, and nine UR Lab Staff/Post Docs.

Underrepresented in Pulmonary Faculty Positions

The graph shows the number of Underrepresented (UR) in Pulmonary Faculty at various career levels in recent years. In 2020, there were two Full Professors, two Associate Professors, and five Assistant Professors. In 2021, there were two Full Professors, three Associate Professors, and thirteen Assistant Professors. In 2022, there are two Full Professors, four Associate Professors, and eighteen Assistant Professors.