Mission Statement

The Diversity and Cultural Affairs Council of The Department of Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine was created to continue the Department’s commitment to
excellence in clinical education and research.

Our goals are:

• To provide a comprehensive array of diversity initiatives designed to sensitize trainees and faculty members to multicultural issues.
• To ensure students, residents and attending physicians provide culturally sensitive care.
• To create an environment of inclusion that welcomes and supports people of varying backgrounds.

Diversity Initiatives

To address our mission, the Department of Medicine and the Diversity and Cultural Affairs Council have implemented several initiatives. Dedicated Grand Rounds are held focusing on an array of issues involving diversity and cultural competence including barriers to care, international health and health disparities. Residents are encouraged to participate in continuity clinics and other rotations that are designed to promote cultural competence both in Chicago and internationally. The Council is currently developing several community service activities for residents and faculty as well.

Council Sponsored Lectureships

• Yvonne Romero, MD (Mayo Clinic) “Overcoming barriers to a career in academic medicine: a personal account”
• Lisa Cooper, MD, MPH (John’s Hopkins School of Public Health), DOM Grand Rounds "Sleep loss: A risk factor for obesity and diabetes".
• Harvey Feinberg, MD, Ph.D (Harvard School of Public Health), DOM Grand Rounds "Efficiency and Quality in Health Care"
  Valerie Stone, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, "Optimizing Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV/AIDS"
• Floyd Malveaux, MD, PhD, Howard University, "Morbidity of Asthma in the Medically Underserved"
• James Earl King Hildreth, MD, PhD, Director, Comprehensive Center for Health Disparities Research in HIV, Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine, "Chemical Condoms for AIDS Prophylaxis: A Novel Approach Based on Cholesterol Sequestration"

Outreach and Recruitment Activities

The Diversity Council actively recruits for the medicine residency program at several venues each year.  In the past we have attended SNMA regional and national meetings, AAMC national meetings, and also visited campuses such as Howard University.  In addition to recruitment, the council plans a residency information panel for local students each year to provide comprehensive information about applying to and succeeding in residency. 

Members

David Mongomery, MD, PhD (DOM Fellow Representative):   dmontgomery005@md.northwestern.edu 
Christina Garcia (FSM M4 Representative):  cristina-garcia@md.northwestern.edu
Khalilah Gates, MD (DOM Fellow Representative): k-gates@md.northwestern.edu
John Franklin, MD (FSM Representative, Associate Dean-OMCA): jef@northwestern.edu
Sunny Gibson (FSM Representative, Director-OMCA): s-gibson@northwestern.edu
Rosanne Di Pietrantonio (FSM M2 Representative, LCMA Chapter President):  
Biftu Menhesha (FSM M2 Representative, SNMA Chapter President): biftu.mengesha@northwestern.edu    

Articles of Interest:

• The Case for Diversity in Academic Internal Medicine
  
• Achieving Diversity in Academic Internal Medicine: Recommendations for Leaders
  
• African American Physicians and Organized Medicine, 1846-1968: Origins of a Racial Divide
  
• Study: HIV/AIDS Pandemic Began About 1900
  
• Nanodiamond Drug Device Could Transform Cancer Treatment

Helpful Links
*NEW* Visiting Clerkship Diversity Scholarship for M4s - Diversity Scholarship Application
Feinberg School of Medicine Office of Minority and Cultural Affairs
Feinberg School of Medicine Diversity
Northwestern SNMA chapter information
Diversity at Northwestern Memorial Hospital

“The Department of Medicine at Northwestern is strongly committed to diversity as a means to strengthen the talent of our trainees and faculty.”

— J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD
Dean, Feinberg School of Medicine