Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Committee

The Department of Ophthalmology at Indiana University School of Medicine is committed to representation of all members of our department. We strive to ensure diversity in all forms is reflected in our daily activities. We will influence our environment with thoughts, words and actions that promote inclusion and justice.

Vision

We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in our department. We will develop innovative and varied strategies to accomplish our goals.

Our commitment to our core values includes the following strategies:

Transparency and active response outcomes

Commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) will acknowledge diversity amongst all, which include race, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disabilities (visible and invisible), neurodiversity, age, political views, family status and sexual orientation. We will designate methods and procedures for reporting and communicating DEIJ-related issues to all department members.

Awareness through education

We recognize that equity comes by being cognizant of our environment and we will strive to create awareness and initiate education of our community members. We will implement DEIJ educational and skill-building programs to promote a safe and nurturing environment within the department so that our members can prosper.

Inclusivity in teaching, training and practice

We aim to be inclusive in our teaching, research, training and practice of our leaders, learners and departmental members. Our goal will be to ensure inclusivity within our clinical practices, research perspectives and education. We will identify resources and tools to ensure representation from every clinic space, laboratory environment and staff unit. We will increase educational efforts within the department to support an environment that decreases bias, teaches cultural competence and promotes inclusion.

Promote diverse recruitment and retention

We will accomplish recruitment and retention of underrepresented in medicine (URiM) trainees, faculty and staff by increasing the number of underrepresented members within our department so as to reflect our communities and patient populations. To accomplish this, we will promote diversity by active outreach to candidates, developing a sustainable pipeline for underrepresented individuals from medical school to residency to faculty and from faculty in leadership through numerous programs for recruitment and retention.

Venue for voice

We will create an environment that will ensure the well-being of our community members and give them a venue for voice to support and encourage expression of individual opinions. We will provide systematic methods for reporting concerns that are free of judgment or retaliation.

Proactive outreach

We pledge to disseminate our data and progress with fairness. We will continue to develop a sustainable and effective outreach and education program within the department

a chart shows the values of the deij committee cycling into each other.

Committee Leadership

Tasneem P. Sharma, PhD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Tasneem P. Sharma, PhD is an Assistant Professor and Director of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice within the department of Ophthalmology. She is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within the department. Her ideology is creating inclusive clinical and research environments where all members of the department can thrive and bring their unique perspectives to medical fields. Drawing on her diverse background, she understands the challenges underrepresented scholars face in academia and their important scientific perspectives that are crucial for research advancement. As a director she has integrated priorities and initiatives that can bridge the gap of systemic equity and ensure the establishment of diverse, equitable and inclusive lab and clinical settings.

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Committee Members

Ashay D. Bhatwadekar, PhD, MPharm

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Ashay Bhatwadekar, PhD, is an Associate Professor at Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology. He is an adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, and a licensed pharmacist in Indiana. From his lab at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, he studies the pathogenic mechanism and develops newer treatments for diabetic retinopathy. He is deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) by mentoring diverse trainees, participating in programs for underrepresented students, researching healthcare disparities, and contributing to university committees. Overall, his efforts promote accessibility, equity, and cultural awareness in academia and healthcare.

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Nicole Bodi

PhD Candidate

Nicole Bodi is a PhD candidate in the laboratory of Dr. Tasneem P. Sharma at the Glick Eye Institute. Nicole joined the Indiana Biomedical Gateways program at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2021. Nicole’s research interests include spaceflight biology, specifically Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome, and ocular neurodegeneration. Nicole is passionate about fostering an inclusive environment on campus through her work with the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute for Women in Neuroscience organization and as a member of the Department of Ophthalmology DEIJ committee.

Charline S. Boente, MD

Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Residency Program Director

Charline S. Boente, MD, MS is a pediatric ophthalmologist and serves as the Residency Program Director for the Indiana University Department of Ophthalmology. She believes that promoting DEIJ begins with acknowledging our current environment, in addition to educating ourselves on DEIJ topics through departmental talks that include identifying healthcare disparities in our patient populations. Dr. Boente strives to create an inclusive environment for the residents and has a strong dedication to outreach and recruitment of diverse applicants to the residency program.

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John T. Lind, MD

Chair, Department of Ophthalmology

John T. Lind, MD serves Chair for Ophthalmology, Associate Director of Medical Student Education and Glaucoma Fellowship Director for the Indiana University Department of Ophthalmology. He proudly serves on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Committee led by Tasneem Sharma since 2021. He has served as Diversity Advocate since 2020 including being a part of all clinical faculty search committees within the department. Nationally, he serves as a mentor in the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring Program.

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Clifton Morlan

Financial Administrative Specialist

Clifton Morlan graduated from IUPUI in 2011 and has been part of the IUPUI campus community since 2013, serving in various roles. Currently, he is the Financial Administrative Specialist for the Department of Ophthalmology at the IU School of Medicine, a position he has held since September 2023. Clifton is an active member of the IUPUI Veterans Faculty Staff Council and the University Veterans Post 360 of the American Legion. Clifton is a disabled veteran, who served in the US Army for 10 years.

Oluwadunsin Olanrewaju

Clinical Research Coordinator

Oluwadunsin is a recent graduate of Texas Tech University with a B.S. in Nutrition. She is currently working in the Department of Ophthalmology at IUSM as a Clinical Research Coordinator. Her passion lies in furthering equitable access to healthcare for all groups of people, preventative healthcare initiatives, and nutrition education. Future goals include becoming a physician and implementing that acquired knowledge in her Nigerian community.

Avinash Soundararajan, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow in Ophthalmology

Avinash Soundararajan, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow within Dr. Pattabiraman’s lab, situated in the department of ophthalmology. Guided by a profound belief in equality, he passionately endeavors to foster an inclusive and equitable work environment for all. Driven by his unwavering commitment, Avinash strives to create a harmonious atmosphere where individuals are offered equal opportunities, regardless of their gender, race, or position. Throughout his doctoral and postdoctoral journeys, he has mentored students from diverse communities, empowering them to reach their fullest potential. Notably, Avinash serves as a valuable and actively contributing to the DEIJ committee since 2023.

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About IU School of Medicine

As the nation’s largest medical school, IU School of Medicine is committed to being an institution that not only reflects the diversity of the learners we teach and the patient populations we serve, but also pursues the values of diversity, equity and inclusion that inform academic excellence. We desire candidates who enhance our representational diversity, as well as those whose work contributes to equitable and inclusive learning and working environments for our students, staff and faculty. IU School of Medicine strives to take an anti-racist stance, regularly evaluating and updating its policies, procedures and practices to confer equitable opportunities for contribution and advancement for all members of our community. We invite individuals who will join us in our mission to advance racial equity to transform health and wellbeing for all throughout the state of Indiana.

Learn more

Ophthalmology Residency

Center for Inclusive Excellence

DEI Events

Representational Diversity

Incident Reporting

Mistreatment Reporting

IU Bias Reporting

Ombuds Office

IU Data, IT or HIPAA Reporting

Patient Safety Incident

IU Health Patient Rights