Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Department of Medicine

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Department of Medicine is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and antiracism work. We are focused on promoting culture change and community building, enhancing recruitment and retention, and advancing the careers of underrepresented in medicine (URiM) residents, fellows, and faculty as well as Asian and women faculty and trainees.

Mission

The BWH Department of Medicine is committed to being a national leader advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for faculty, residents, fellows, medical students, and staff in the context of compassionate cutting-edge patient care, groundbreaking research, and outstanding medical education, while effectively partnering with our surrounding communities. We recognize and seek to mitigate health inequities that pervade our society as a result of longstanding racism, sexism, and other systems of oppression. We do this work through innovative research, health equity-focused clinical innovations, and equity-informed medical education.

Goals

    • Enhance the number and proportion of underrepresented in medicine (URiM) faculty, residents, and fellows
    • Successfully retain our URiM trainees and faculty
    • Advance the careers of URiM, Asian, and women faculty, including faculty rank and leadership roles
    • Promote a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing for all

Strategies and Tactics

    • Promoting culture change through education, trainings, and intentional conversations
    • Community building for URiM residents, fellows and faculty
    • Developing & implementing best practices for URiM resident, fellow, & faculty recruitment
    • Mentorship programs for URiM residents and fellows
    • Working with division chiefs on recruitment & retention of fellows and faculty
    • New and Early Career URiM Faculty Development Workshop Series
    • URiM faculty and women faculty career advising and mentorship
    • Created DOM Diversity Council of senior representatives to update, advise, and share best practices
    • Incentivize Division Chiefs and Division Administrators to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts through a goal setting process

Events and Activities

For more information about upcoming events, click here.

URiM Internship Applicant Second Look Event – On Friday, January 26, 2024, we hosted one of our largest events of the year, the URiM Internship Applicant Second Look Event!  This year, we interviewed over 140 URiM applicants to our Medicine program, and invited all of them to return (virtually) to learn even more about the resources available for URiM residents, our culture and community, and the day-to-day experience of URiM residents and faculty in our program. 

This year’s keynote speaker was George Ruiz, M.D., M.B.A., System Chief of Cardiology for Geisinger Health, and a distinguished URiM alumnus of our residency program.  Dr. Ruiz taught Morning Report with our residents, did a Q&A session with our Second Look participants, and gave a compelling Medical Grand Rounds presentation, “Catching the Wind – Leading Organizations During Times of Great Change.”

Annual URiM Resident Retreat – On Thursday, April 11, 2024, we hosted our 4th annual Department of Medicine URiM Retreat under the theme “Strategizing Your Career Advancement and Professional Development”. Dr. Valerie Stone, Dr. Nicolette Rodriguez, and Dr. Zainab Jaji from our DOM DEI Leadership Team delivered insightful presentations, on leadership careers and building networks. Amidst the elegant setting, participants engaged in vibrant discussions, fostering connections and exchanging ideas to propel personal and professional growth, while reaffirming our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in medicine.

Faculty Announcements

New URiM Faculty

The following URiM faculty have joined the Department of Medicine since July 1, 2023. Welcome!

NameDivisionFaculty Appointment
David Benavides, MDSleep MedicineInstructor
Wilfredo Matias, MD, MPHInfectious DiseasesInstructor
Aaron Nelson, MDEndocrinology, Diabetes and HypertensionInstructor
Luciana Padua Tavares, PhDPulmonary and Critical Care MedicineInstructor
Maria Pabon Porras, MDCardiovascular MedicineInstructor
Lourdes Ramirez, MDAllergy and ImmunologyInstructor
Ann-Marcia Tukpah, MD, MPHPulmonary and Critical Care MedicineInstructor

Note: Those faculty in the divisions of Medical Oncology and Palliative Care are based at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Promotions for URiM Faculty

The following URiM faculty were promoted at Harvard Medical School through the Department of Medicine since July 1, 2023. Congratulations!

NameDivisionFaculty PromotionDate
Jorge Romero, MDCardiovascular MedicineAssociate Professor11/1/2023
Andrew Aguirre, MD, PhDMedical OncologyAssociate Professor1/1/2024
Alexandre Pereira, MD, PhDAgingAssistant Professor1/1/2024
Michelle Holmes, MD, DrPHChanning Division of Network MedicineProfessor2/1/2024
Brian L. Claggett, PhDCardiovascular MedicineAssociate Professor2/1/2024
Kayoll Gyan, PhD, RNMedical OncologyAssistant Professor3/1/2024
Lachelle Weeks, MD, PhDMedical OncologyAssistant Professor6/1/2024

Note: Those faculty in the divisions of Medical Oncology and Palliative Care are based at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute