Women’s History Month: the UPHS tradition of Female Leadership

By Corrinne Fahl

To celebrate International Women’s Day which was on March 8 and Women’s History Month, the Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity celebrates the appointment of Alicia Gresham, MBA, MS as CEO of Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation’s first hospital established in 1752.  This is indeed a historic moment, given the important milestone that the founding of Pennsylvania Hospital represents for the nation and now its new leaders taking over its helm.   Ms. Gresham joined UPHS in January of this year, having previously been Senior Vice President and COO of Network Operations at Mount Sinai Health System. Ms. Gresham is returning to…

Celebrating Black History Month: A Journey Through Literature

By Kya Hertz

Black History Month offers a reflective journey into the struggles, triumphs, and enduring spirit of the African American community. It's a time to honor the past, recognize the present, and inspire the future. One of the most profound ways to connect with the essence of this month is through literature. This year, we spotlight three compelling books that delve into the complexities of race, health, and societal structures. Join us in exploring the works of Dorothy Roberts, Jasmine Brown, and Uche Blackstock. If you don’t have time to read the physical book, please note that all three are available on…

Celebrating a Champion of Health Equity: The Penn Medicine Community Health Fair Team

By Kya Hertz

In recognition of Black History Month, it is imperative to spotlight transformative initiatives that profoundly impact the communities we serve. The Penn Medicine Health Education and Screening Community Health Fair, a trailblazing initiative, a product of the Health Equity Project of the Department of Radiology (DOR) and its Radiology Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Committee (RIDE), stands as a testament to unwavering commitment and profound impact.

A Model of Excellence: Data-Driven Development and Collaborative Leadership

Despite advancements in cancer treatment, significant disparities continue to plague our healthcare system, with Black Americans facing alarming inequities in cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. These…

Celebrating Black History Month: Present and Past Pioneers

By Eve Higginbotham, SM, MD, ML

Traditionally, Black History Month is a time when we celebrate lists of individuals who have overcome challenges and meaningfully contributed to the advancement of our society. There are many iconic individuals whose lives significantly enriched the societal aspirations for a better world.  As we all strive to achieve similar goals, there are barriers that we continuously face that may seem unresolvable.  Thus, taking time to consider the accomplishments of others, may infuse the necessary energy to endure the challenges we face in our professional and personal journey. 

This year’s celebration takes on added importance given the current state of our…

Reflections on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

By Eve Higginbotham, SM, MD, ML

As we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King today, we find ourselves immersed in a world that is filled with conflict and hatred.  This context drives us to seek solace in the words of Dr. King, who shines as a bright beacon of hope and inspiration.  In the face of the increase in hate speech that plagues our society, particularly in the last several weeks, his teachings become even more poignant.  His words and actions offer a powerful antidote to venomous language that divides and dehumanizes. Dr. King exemplified the courage to break the chains of silence and…

Building Bridges to A Place of Healing

By Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity

As we welcome the new year, the team in the Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity would like to extend a heartfelt message of solidarity and compassion.  We deeply value open dialogue as a means to discover and implement solutions that foster a healthier, more equitable community.  Over the years, we’ve dedicated ourselves to hosting sessions aimed at enhancing health and wellness for everyone, and addressing the existing disparities in healthcare.  The Action for Cultural Transformation (ACT) launched in July, 2020 sought to address the effects of structural racism and established a strategic framework to build a…

Restorative Justice Practices as a Bridge to a Space of Healing and Sharing

By Jack Drummond

By Jack Drummond (Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity)

In the ever-changing and emotionally charged field of healthcare, it is becoming more and more evident that restorative practices are crucial, especially during times of profound healing and recovery. The Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity fully embraces this idea and strives to create a community that is inclusive, diverse, and equitable. We, as a community, agreed to the core values of respect, cultural humility, empathy and equity in Action for Cultural Transformation (ACT), we find ourselves leaning into those values, now more than ever.  To achieve the goal of ensuring…

Racism-Conscious Policymaking as an Alternative to Race-Based Policymaking

By Hoag Levins

An LDI Seminar Unpacks the Nuances of Racialized Health Care Policy and Practice

Women in Medicine: Raina Merchant on Unique Ways to Transform Health Care

By Jack Drummond

Penn Medicine’s Chief Transformation Officer Raina Merchant, MD, MSHP, is at the helm of innovation efforts at Penn to make health care easier—utilizing technology to reduce administrative burdens and free employees to do more meaningful work. In her role, Merchant coordinates multiple projects from teams across Penn Medicine, from Information Services to Operations to the office of the Chief Medical Officer, and more.

“Penn is really focused on thinking about efficiency for health care workers across every spectrum, from clinicians to frontline staff to those who work behind the scenes,” said Merchant, who is also an associate vice president…

Introducing West Philadelphia High School Students to Careers in Neurosurgery

By Jack Drummond

By Jonathan Waller

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, only 4.2% of neurosurgeons are Black, with an even smaller representation of Black women at 0.6% from a 2018 survey. But initiatives across the country aim to increase diversity in neurosurgery and other medical fields.

At Penn, for example, the Netter Center for Community Partnerships partnered with Penn Medicine to develop the Educational Pipeline Program to encourage high school students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine to aspire to medical science careers.

The program works closely with the School of Veterinary Medicine, the Masters of Public Health Program, the…

Penn Medicine Pride: LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Equity in Health Care

By Jack Drummond

By Jonathan Waller

During this summer’s Philadelphia LGBTQ+ Pride March, staff from across Penn Medicine, along with their friends, families, and neighbors participated to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. By marching, they also helped to reaffirm Penn’s commitment to health equity, representation, and support for queer individuals who are employed by or receive care across the health system.

“Penn is a leading health care provider in the city of Philadelphia, so a lot of other entities look to us to lead the way,” shared Jenna Mechalas, MSN, RN, a Heart and Vascular Care nurse at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and chair…

LDI: Sandy Schwartz Memorial Grand Rounds Eyes Clinical Impact of AI

By Hoag Levins

2023 Event Underscores Lack of Algorithmic Equity and Relevant FDA Regulations

Celebrating Juneteenth and Taking Stock in the Deeper Message

By Jack Drummond

Eve J. Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

Vice Dean, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity

Perelman School of Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

Caption: This poster was sent to me by a friend who is a member of the AKA Sorority; I believe it captures the essence of today’s celebration.

As we celebrate Juneteenth it is important to recognize not only the significance of this day but be reminded about the work that still remains ahead of us.  It is notable that the Emancipation Proclamation was signed two years before the slaves in Texas became aware.  It has always been a struggle…

Juneteenth Wellness Summit

By Roy Hoshi Hamilton, MD, MS, FAAN, FANA,

***UPDATE: Due to weather this event will be next Friday, June 30th from 12:30pm-3pm at Saunders Park. Note the slight change in the start time. All other details regarding the event remain the same ***

Commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, Juneteenth (June19th) is an important time for celebration, reflection, community-building, and engagement. Friday June 23rd from 1-3pm, please join us at the Penn Medicine/Wharton Wellness Summit: Community Health and Financial Literacy Celebration in of honor of Juneteenth 2023. This first ever event is being coordinated by Penn Neurology’s Inclusion Diversity Anti-Racism and Equity (IDARE) Program in partnership…

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Dr.

By Corrinne Fahl

As we continue our celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we take pride in the healthcare trailblazers who call Penn Medicine home.

Beginning in January of this year, Penn Medicine was happy to appoint Zarina Ali, MD, MS, FAANS, as chief of neurosurgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. The first female neurosurgeon at Pennsylvania Hospital, Dr. Ali began her career with the University of Pennsylvania Health System as a neurosurgery resident with subspecialty training in peripheral nerve surgery.

Ali is also an assistant professor of Neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine, senior fellow of…

Class of 2023 President’s Engagement, Innovation Prize winners announced - Two PSOM mentees honored

By Ron Ozio

Awarded annually, the Prizes empower Penn students to design and undertake post-graduation projects that make a positive, lasting difference in the world. Each Prize-winning project will receive $100,000, as well as a $50,000 living stipend per team member. The Prizes are the largest of their kind in higher education. All Prize recipients collaborate with a Penn faculty mentor

• Seungwon (Lucy) Lee for Communities for Childbirth: Lee, a neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences from Seoul, is CEO and co-founder of Communities for Childbirth, an international organization that empowers maternal and child health in Jinja, Uganda. With the…

Women’s History Month: Honoring the Trailblazers

By Kya Hertz, CDE®

 As we celebrate Women's History Month, it is important to recognize and honor the accomplishments of women who broke down barriers and shattered stereotypes in their respective fields. Women's History Month is a time to reflect on the countless contributions that women have made to society and today, I would like to honor Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte.

Susan LaFlesche Picotte was a pioneering figure in American medical history, and the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree. Born in 1865 on the Omaha Reservation in Nebraska, she grew up in a family of traditional healers who blended their…

Celebrating Women’s History Month: Dr. Ann Preston

By Corrinne Fahl

Ann Preston MD (1813-1872)

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it is the appropriate time to celebrate the women in medicine who have come before us.  In the last century since the Flexner Report, the proportion of women in leadership positions still has a long journey ahead.  A 2018 AAMC report notes that  in 2018, women account for 16% of deans, 18% of department chairs, and 25% of full professors.  Here at the Perelman School of Medicine, we are ahead of these benchmarks with women representing 33% of our department chairs and xx % of full professors, as of 2022. …

Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. Charles R. Drew (1904-1950)

By Kya Hertz, CDP

Dr. Charles R. Drew was a pioneering physician and medical researcher who made significant contributions to the fields of medicine and science, especially around blood transfusion and storage. His work has saved countless lives and helped to lay the foundation for the modern blood banking industry.

Born in Washington D.C., Drew was the oldest of five children and showed an early aptitude for science and medicine. After completing his undergraduate education at Amherst College in Massachusetts, he went on to earn a degree in medicine from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Drew's groundbreaking research into blood transfusion and storage began…

OIDE Black History Month Event focusing on Restorative Practices

By Jack Drummond, Director of Restorative Practices

The Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (OIDE) encourages you to recognize and celebrate the contributions made by African Americans during Black History Month. Notable contributions in fields such as medicine, law, science, technology, and art have greatly shaped our world and continue to shape the future.

As we honor these contributions, let us also recognize there is still progress to be made, by encouraging open discussions about race, mitigating biases, and promoting acceptance and understanding of all people and perspectives, with a focus on healing.

The Action for Cultural Transformation (ACT) strategic initiative continues to focus on eliminating structural…

OIDE Reflection: Past, Present and Future

By Kya Hertz CDP, Assistant Director

Since the inception of the Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity in 2013 we have focused on the advancement of inclusion, diversity, and equity initiatives at Penn Medicine.  Over the past few years there has been a steady increase in the diversity of academic scholars, scientist, and clinicians, traditionally underrepresented in medicine and science.

The events of spring 2020 resulted in an intensification of efforts that created the first strategic initiative to unite the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) and the University Health System (UPHS) in efforts to build a more inclusive culture and address residual elements of structural racism.…

Hispanic Heritage Month

By Corrinne Fahl

National Hispanic Heritage Month

We would like to celebrate our Hispanic & Latinx faculty in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Our Hispanic faculty members have increased from 2.39% Hispanic in 2012 to 3.34% Hispanic in 2022.   Although there has been only marginal progress in recruiting and retaining our self-identified Hispanic faculty, their contributions have outpowered their representation.  We are pleased to highlight five of our faculty members in celebrations of National Hispanic Heritage Month. 

Dr. Iris Reyes, MD FACEP was the first Latina to be promoted to Full Professor at the Perelman School of Medicine

Dr. Reyes is a…

Women In Medicine Month

By Corrinne Fahl

Penn LDI Launches $2.5 Million CKD Research Initiative

By Hoag Levins

The University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI) is launching a new initiative to support research on improving the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD), with a particular focus on addressing disparities including structural barriers and racial inequities. The three-year research initiative is made possible by a $2.5 million gift from Monogram Health.

Called the Penn LDI Research Initiative on Improving Management of Chronic Kidney Disease, the effort will involve Penn LDI Senior Fellows and research teams that have been at the forefront of identifying drivers of CKD progression and barriers to the use of home…

Acknowledging National Disability Independence Day

By Eve J. Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

The vision of our shared initiative, Action for Cultural Transformation (ACT) is to build a more inclusive culture.  Since its inception, progress has been made on a number of key initiatives however, as many have stated in the process, “This is not a sprint but a marathon.”  Achieving that goal comes in many forms.  One notable strategy is to understand key policies and opportunities to optimize the lives of our patients, colleagues, and members of our family. 

Today, July 26^th marks the 32^nd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a critically transformative Civil…

Reflecting on the Significance of Juneteenth in Present Day We Celebrate a New Federal Holiday: Year 2

By Eve J. Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

On June 19, 2022, the nation will acknowledge for the second year, the day that enslaved Americans in the last original confederate state, first learned that President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.  Hundreds of miles away from Washington DC, deep in the heart of Texas, individuals were finally freed from an existence few of us can ever imagine surviving for even one hour.  Imagine learning for the first time that this federal edict signed on January 1, 1863 and not hearing this news, for the first time, until June 19 1865.  Can you imagine learning for the first time, more…

Honoring Pride Month at Penn Medicine

By Eve J. Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

Imagine yourself enjoying time with friends in a small bar in New York and, without warning, joyous moments are unceremoniously interrupted by police.  The atmosphere instantly is transformed to what feels like a battlefield.  Several of your friends are taken to jail. The entire neighborhood is seemingly engaged in the conflict, and days of continued disruption follow.  The Stonewall Riots in 1969 launched a movement which resulted in continued activitism for civil rights within the LGBTQ+ community and increased social acceptance, creating pockets of a greater sense of belonging across the nation. Philadelphia and its residents have also been central…

Elevating a Spirit of Hope and Perseverance Fueled by Action for Cultural Transformation (ACT)

By Eve J. Higginbotham SM, MD, ML Vice Dean for Penn Medicine Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity,   Dwaine B. Duckett MS, Chief Human Resources Officer, UPHS

May 25, 2022, marked the second anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. This milestone reminds us to reflect on the past two years and review the impact of the movement for change that this event inspired.

  Our nation remains divided. Some will not yet acknowledge that over 400 years of structural barriers continue to support social inequities in our society. Long-held beliefs and assumptions fuel persistent hatred. We see this in everything from misinformation about potential for high performance in the workplace based solely on skin color to the loss of lives far too early.

  Incidents of…

Penn LDI $1.5 Million Grant Expands Penn’s Undergrad Minority Health Research Pipeline

By Hoag Levins

A collaboration between the University of Pennsylvania’s Population Aging Research Center (PARC) and the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI) has received a $1.5 million grant for a new pipeline program to support underrepresented undergraduate students interested in academic careers in aging and health research.

The five-year grant from the National Institute of Aging will establish the Get Experience in Aging Research Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP), which will support undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds through a 15-month immersive experience in the disciplines, skills, and day-to-day life of Penn’s broad faculty community of aging-related health care researchers.

Read more here

Celebrating Black History Month: A Time for Reflection, Renewal, and Recommitment

By Eve Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

As some of you, I spent this month reflecting on the contributions of so many of our African American historical figures and colleagues, who either have preceded us or who work within our ranks, to advance our collective efforts to achieve health equity.  Within the halls of Penn Medicine, we have celebrated the contributions of Helen Octavia Dickens MD (1909 – 2001), Penn’s first African American Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology faculty member and a trailblazer in advancing health equity.  She is now appropriately memorialized on the first floor of Stemmler Hall in an exhibit that highlights several pivotal moments…

An Invitation to Recommit to Change: Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King

By Eve J. Higginbotham SM, MD, ML, Dwaine Duckett

On January 19, Penn Medicine will be hosting its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Equity Symposium celebrating the life and legacy of one of our most celebrated Americans, Dr. Martin Luther King.   As the first President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, rooted in Christian beliefs, and galvanized by the teachings and practice of Mathma Gandhi, Dr. King was one of most visible and impactful leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.  The lessons we can learn from his journey live on in his speeches and writing; it is his crusade for social justice that we celebrate on his actual…

In Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month

By Corrinne Fahl

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to highlight two of our stellar Hispanic faculty in the Perelman School of Medicine. Hispanic Heritage month was passed by Congress on September 17, 1968. Public Law 90-48 calls upon the “people of the United States, especially the educational community, to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

Currently, PSOM has 3.13% full time faculty who self-identify as Hispanic or Latinx, and the incoming 2020 medical school class was 10.9% Hispanic/Latinx.

Dr. Diaz-Arrastia is Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, where he leads the TBI Clinical Research Initiative. …

Celebrating the Women of ACT: One Year Later

By Eve Higginbotham SM, MD, ML; Kya Hertz, CDP®; Corrie Fahl, MEd

Last year, the national conversation shifted in sharp focus to the structural inequities which have shaped our society for centuries.  We had already witnessed the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on communities of color, however it was the murder of George Floyd in May of 2020 which struck the heart and soul of the nation.  The country witnessed a summer of protests and conversations which were focused on the frustration and fatigue related to the continued evidence of structural racism, dating back 400 years.  The confluence of the inequities observed during the pandemic and the continued evidence of inequities in…

Celebrating the Contributions of Women in Medicine and Science at Penn Medicine and Beyond

By Eve Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

Every year, September marks a time when we celebrate the contributions of women to medicine and science.  On September 13, 2021 at noon, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhl, the Newman Family Professor and Deputy Chair in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University Michigan.  Dr. Jagsi is one of the most sought after speakers on the topic of gender equity in medicine, and her visit with us will further stimulate our exploration of strategies to further advance women in science and medicine…

A Day to Remember, A History We Should Never Forget

By Eve J. Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

As we approach the Juneteenth Holiday, it is important to consider the what, the why, and the where this day should take us on a journey of deep reflection.  In many ways, weaved into this day of remembrance and celebration, there is a dual tribute - acknowledging what this day represents and the hope it should inspire within each of us for the future. 

What Is Today?

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger proclaimed the following order to the people of Texas:

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the…

One Year Ago on May 25: Reflections on This Moment We Share

By Eve Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

One year ago today, on a street in Minneapolis, a man lost his life.  George Floyd parked outside a convenience store in his neighborhood and was accused of passing a counterfeit bill.  A call to the local police quickly escalated to an attempt to place Mr. Floyd in a police vehicle, then a pinning of his body on the ground, and a knee on his neck for more than 9 minutes.   The world soon saw what bystanders witnessed, captured on video by a teenager.  If we had not seen the video, there would be other explanations of this moment.  That…

And the Verdict is In

By Eve Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

We find ourselves in a crucible moment, for the family of George Floyd, for the families that have lost loved ones, for our nation, and for the world. Where will this lead us, as a community as a society?  From the time of the first video that exposed the circumstances of Mr. Floyd’s death to the verdict we all witnessed on April 20, 2021, laid bare the inequities that occur at the hands of those who hold providence over us.  There are members of the police force who are fully committed to protect and serve our communities, however there are…

Anti-Asian Racism in America

By Michelle Guo, Tong Wang, Yuchen Chen

We at the Perelman School of Medicine are deeply saddened by the rise of anti-Asian violence over the past year. Our previous statement is published on our homepage.

We honor and mourn the eight victims who have lost their lives in the most recent Atlanta shooting, six of whom are Asian-American. We’ve listed their names here.

• Hyun Jung Grant, 51
• Xiaojie Tan, 49
• Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33
• Paul Andre Michels, 54
• Yong Ae Yue, 63
• Suncha Kim, 69
• Soon Chung Park, 74
• Daoyou Feng, 44

In an attempt to examine how these tragedies have affected some of our medical…

In Celebration of the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968

By Eve J. Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

Last night, I read a book of quotations attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seeking both comfort during this period of volatility in our country and inspiration to continue to press on in our shared quest of a more perfect union.  I believe most of us will agree, the violence that we witnessed at the Capitol last week, is not reflective of the country that the Founders envisioned. 

Dr. King devoted his life to nonviolent protests, which is not what we witnessed on January 6, 2021.  The insurrection that shook many of us at our core was more than…

Penn pledges $100 million to the School District of Philadelphia

By Corrinne Fahl

University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, School Board President Joyce Wilkerson, and Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia William R. Hite Jr., today announced that Penn will contribute $100 million to the School District of Philadelphia, representing an unprecedented commitment to the City and its public schoolchildren. This is the largest private contribution to the School District in its history.

Read the full story here

In Honor of Veteran's Day

By Eve Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

This year marks the 80^th anniversary of the reactivation of the University of Pennsylvania’s 20th General Hospital, deployed in summer 1940 as part of the World War II China–Burma campaign. The hospital's commissioning, preparations, and staff training took place in Philadelphia over a 2-year period. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the hospital was organized and ready for its mission to serve troops in the Burma–China Theater. The 20th General Hospital entered active service on May 15, 1942, with a large and enthusiastic send-off from a supportive crowd at 30th Street Station.

The 20th General Hospital deployment has an…

LDI: Looking Ahead To The New Era of Biden Health Care Policy

By Hoag Levins

As four top policy experts convened in an LDI virtual seminar on November 6 to discuss health care reform in a new administration, Joe Biden was leading the race to capture the White House; but Democrats did not appear to gain majority control of the Senate — an event with major implications for health care. With an eye on the confines of this potential reality, panelists discussed the kinds of things that could be done by a new President without Congressional legislation.

The panel included four LDI Senior Fellows who are leading authorities in the fields of health policy, health law, health economics and…

How Can We Go Forward as a Community and as a Society?

By Eve Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

Yesterday at 4PM, a young man lost his life in West Philadelphia.  According to reports, he had a history of mental illness and was brandishing a knife, as he walked towards police.  As I view the video which documented this occurrence, I see a young man, younger than my nephew, who is indeed, walking towards police.  He was not running towards the officers but was simply walking.  Why is it that the initial response to such a circumstance is to release a flurry of bullets?  Why is it that the deadliest display of force is the first response?  Why…

In Memory of Ruth Bader Ginsberg 1933-2020

By Eve J. Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

It is hard to believe, just within nine weeks following the death of Congressman John Lewis, we have lost another social justice icon.  In the midst of continued daily assaults on the fragile fabric of our democratic ideals and aspirations, it is almost too much to bear.

Just one week ago, the world was shocked by the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg (RBG).  Although short in stature, she cast a long shadow, effectively shaping the legal framework affirming gender equality in our nation.  Her six cases that she argued before the Supreme Court in the early 70s…

In Honor of Congressman John Lewis (1940-2020)

By Eve J. Higginbotham SM, MD, ML

As we continue to mourn the death of Congressman John Lewis, it is important to recognize the lessons he taught us during his lifetime.  Three quotes come to mind which we should consider as we launch a series of virtual town hall meetings related to our initiative, ACT: Action for Cultural Transformation.

The first quote is the following: “We will stand up for what is right, for what is fair and what is just. Health care is a right and not a privilege.”  As we search for improvements to the care of our patients, this quote should be our…

Celebrating Juneteenth – Continuing Our Movement

By Florencia Greer Polite, MD 

Today Friday, June 19, marks Juneteenth - a commemoration of the “freedom” of all people living in the United States.

The history of slavery in the United States is a complicated one and very much impacts the current predicament we find ourselves in.  Interestingly, Juneteenth relates back to Abraham Lincoln and the conversation that I had with my daughter Lena about the abolition of slavery. 

In the history of the slave trade to the New World, according to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database, 12.5 million Africans were shipped to the New World. 10.7 million Africans survived the dreaded Middle Passage,…

LDI Model Simulations Point to Key Concerns for Reopening the Economy

By Corrinne Fahl

As two-thirds of the 50 states began relaxing their anti-COVID-19 restrictions, a May 15 virtual seminar convened by the University of Pennsylvania's Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI) brought together scientists who have created different simulator models to predict the economic and health changes various levels of policy relaxations may bring.

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Georges Benjamin

By Corrinne Fahl

The “outbreak of pneumonia of an unknown cause” was first reported in Wuhan, China on Dec. 31, 2019, and was in the U.S. by mid-January. Since then, the virus named COVID-19 has resulted in nearly 90,000 deaths and 1.5 million stricken in the United States. The economic burden on the country has also been staggering. More than 36 million Americans filed unemployment claims in two months, numbers unseen since the Great Depression of 1929.

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Catherine Raney

By Corrinne Fahl

Due to long standing inequities, the devastation caused by COVID-19 is falling more heavily on the shoulders of already vulnerable people. Families living in tight quarters cannot effectively distance themselves if a member of the household becomes infected, and “staying home” is not economically feasible for low-income undocumented immigrants who are currently being denied access to social safety net programs including the CARES Act stimulus checks.  

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Brandon Grant

By Corrinne Fahl

On February 11, the World Health Organization officially named the 2019 novel coronavirus as COVID-19. At that time the virus felt like it was a world away from our doorsteps. Few could have predicted that less than two months later we would be facing a public health crisis here in our local community that is impacting communities of color disproportionately. Originally it was assumed that that first US fatality was in late February, but recently learned COVID-19 was present prior to that.

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Hannah Anderson

By Corrinne Fahl

The COVID-19 pandemic has required major changes to where we work and how we communicate at work. Many of us are adapting to challenging online meeting environments: poor-quality calls with background noise, video chats with colleagues required to wear facemasks, and pre-recorded lectures with limited interaction. For those of us who are d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing, however, those types of virtual interactions are not just challenging – they can make our equal participation impossible.

Too Much to Lose: Lives and Livelihoods - Eve Higginbotham

By Corrinne Fahl

There has been a continuous outcry for increased testing during this pandemic and unfortunately, the absence of a nationally coordinated system of testing has not emerged.  In the state of Pennsylvania, the number of tests per million is reported to be 15,029 which is less than half than other states such as New York, Massachusetts, and Louisiana and 33% less than New Jersey.

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Susan Summerton

By Corrinne Fahl

I was inspired to create a piece of X-ray art once it became evident that the best thing we all can do to fight the spread of COVID 19 is to remain at home.  I am an associate professor of radiology at Penn Medicine/Pennsylvania Hospital and have seen a significant change at my hospital and in the radiology department as a result of this pandemic.  As a breast and body imager, I had been reading mammograms and doing breast biopsies 4 days a week and reading CT scans, ultrasounds and radiographs of the abdomen one day a week.

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Florencia Polite

By Corrinne Fahl

Dr. Polite, Chief of the Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology discusses her experiences during COVID-19 in Amsterdam News. On the Frontlines as an OBGYN Turned Crisis Doctor. Florencia Polite, MD

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Cory Simpson

By Corrinne Fahl

I'm a dermatologist, so I'm not on the front lines of this pandemic. And thanks to public health measures, I may never be called to work at coronavirus drive-thru testing sites because we are flattening the curve of infections. Nevertheless, my clinic is reserved as a hospital “surge unit,” so I’ve converted to telemedicine to keep caring for patients—it’s easy to forget amidst a pandemic that other diseases persist and worsen if untreated.

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Ezelle Sanford; The Myth of Black Immunity: Racialized Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Corrinne Fahl

Penn Program on Race, Science, and Society (PRSS) Postdoctoral Research Associate Ezelle Sanford III, and his colleague anthropology Doctoral Candidate Chelsey Carter have written an essay for the award-winning African American Intellectual History Society (AAIHS) blog, Black Perspectives. In, “The Myth of Black Immunity: Racialized Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic” Carter and Sanford draw on historical and anthropological analyses to respond to the initial racialization COVID-19.

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Ezelle Sanford

By Corrinne Fahl

COVID-19, a novel coronavirus,  has taken the world by storm, leading to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) pandemic declaration.  The novel virus, never encountered before in human history, has laid bare our failings as a society.  It has exposed significant systemic vulnerabilities and vulnerable populations—including the unhoused, the incarcerated, hourly-wage workers, and caregivers—to name just a few. We cannot close schools because food insecure children depend on them.  Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have long existed on the margins of our healthcare system and there, COVID-19 thrives.

LDI The Intersecting Health Disasters of the Pandemic and Its Economic Meltdown

By Corrinne Fahl

Reviewing scientific evidence collected from the country's last century of economic downturns, LDI Senior Fellow and Penn Medicine Assistant Professor Atheendar Venkataramani painted a sobering picture of the likely long-term impact of the intertwined health disasters of coronavirus and the economic downturn it spawned.

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Robertson Lab & OID

By Corrinne Fahl

Can We Detect SARS-Cov-2 More Efficiently and Effectively in the Near Future? In the midst of this pandemic, Penn Medicine continues its history of innovation by leading the way in finding solutions to  fight COVID-19. The Office of Inclusion and Diversity had the opportunity to learn more about one new approach to detect SARS-Cov-2.

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Eve Higginbotham

By Corrinne Fahl

In his daily briefing, when noting the disproportional impact that the COVID-19 has delivered to communities of color, Governor Andrew Cuomo stated, “It always seems the poorest people pay the highest price?” He restated this same question more than once, as if to ask this question to this world, not necessarily seeking an immediate answer, but to challenge all of us to seek answers. 

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Claiborne B. Childs

By Corrinne Fahl

I have a bag of lapel pins that I like to wear on my white coat. Three weeks ago, I came across a pin that I bought from the Smithsonian Museum of African American History & Culture in 2019. The pin is black with gold lettering that says: "Keep Going". After a week of working in the hospital, this message was something that I needed to hear. At that time, the number of COVID positive patients was increasing by the day and the level of anxiety on the units was palpable. We had several "close calls" with patients who were…

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Samantha Cauley

By Corrinne Fahl

My feet hurt. My heart aches. My hands are cracked. My brain is in a fog. My eyes are dry. My ears are sore. I'm tired. We're tired. It's just the beginning. I'm back in the ICU. I'm pulled from training in the OR. It's okay though. These patients need me. The floor needs me. We need each other. We go into rooms together with our double PPE. 2 gowns, 2 pairs of gloves, scrub hat, hair net, N95, surgical mask over that, glasses, face shield. We knock on doors from inside the room if we forgot something. We leave…

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Risa Lavizzo-Mourey

By Corrinne Fahl

The headline "Two SEPTA Workers Die of Coronavirus" took my breath away, because it was the first local heading foreshadowing which populations were going to be hardest hit here in Philadelphia.  Before becoming one of the privileged ones working from home, my routine commute from Old City to Penn always involved SEPTA. Particularly in the morning the train was packed with people wearing some sort of health care garb or ID, but also people dressed for a myriad of mostly service jobs. In Philadelphia one of the poorest large cities in the US, public transportation and therefore the people who…

Blog Series – Covid-19: Stories, Insights and Perspectives Michal A. Elovitz

By Corrinne Fahl

A physician-scientist's pandemic puzzle. They say it is times like these where priorities become so apparent. Fear of losing yourself, of your family, of your friends, of your colleagues---it definitely makes everything that much more transparent.

How Can Hospitals Address Scarce Resources During Covid-19?

By Corrinne Fahl

Most hospitals have general contingency plans for resource allocation in times of medical scarcity — like the current COVID-19 pandemic. But they don't have detailed guidelines for the process of actually making those allocation decisions in a fast moving and often conflicted crisis environment. Penn School of Arts and Sciences political scientist and LDI Senior Fellow Julia Lynch, PhD, has now created those guidelines.

First Penn LDI Virtual Seminar Tackles COVID-19 Conundrums

By Corrinne Fahl

A realistic timeline for the development of a COVID-19 treatment and vaccine, long-term social distancing options, and the plight of small businesses, hourly workers and vulnerable children were some of the topics covered in the University of Pennsylvania Leonard Davis Institute's first virtual seminar.

LDI: The Rising Power of Administrative Data for HSR Scientists

By Corrinne Fahl

In 2016, after City Council approved a soda tax to fund the operation of pre-kindergarten educational programs throughout Philadelphia, the city had to decide where this funding would be targeted. It turned to the University of Pennsylvania's Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy Center (AISP) to create a data model mapping key early childhood risk exposure across the neighborhoods.

Read full article on the Leonard Davis Institute site

LDI: Health Care Podcast “Tradeoffs” to Launch at Penn

By Corrinne Fahl

Evidence Takes Center Stage in Effort Backed by LDI, Annenberg School, and Center for Public Health Initiatives

Veteran radio journalist Dan Gorenstein is being collaboratively supported by three University of Pennsylvania entities, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the California Health Care Foundation in the launch of a new media outlet producing in-depth podcast reports analyzing topical health care issues.

Read full article on the Leonard Davis Institute site.

Open letter to Dr. Goldfarb from Alumni

By Corrinne Fahl

Regarding an open letter to Dr. Goldfarb

Dr. Crystal Zheng is reaching out to fellow alumni to draft an open letter to Dr. Goldfarb regarding his piece in the Wall Street Journal. The University of Pennsylvania and the Perelman School of Medicine stand by their commitment to Inclusion and Diversity, as well as health equity, cultural humility, and broad education. You can find the draft letter here. 

Delores Brisbon, Women in Medicine Month 2019

By Default Admin User

The Office of Inclusion and Diversity is excited to welcome Delores Brisbon on September 24th to celebrate Women in Medicine month. Mrs. Brisbon will be speaking at 1pm in the Flyers/76ers Surgery Theater in HUP.

Martin Luther King Jr. Health Equity Symposium 2019 Recap

By Dominique Alexis

This year we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 90^th birthday and on January 23, 2019, marked the fifth anniversary of the Office of Inclusion and Diversity's Martin Luther King Jr. Health Equity Symposium. This year's keynote speaker Jonathan Woodson, MD, who leads Boston University's University-wide Institute for Health System Innovation and Policy gave a compelling talk entitled "My Soul Looks Back; Lest we Forget (What the Evolution of MLK Teaches about Solving America's Problem's Today)." The symposium opened with remarks by Dr. PJ Brennan, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of the University of…

Faculty Members Attend the AAMC Minority Faculty Leadership Development Seminar

By Dominique Alexis

Every year the AAMC hosts a three-day Minority Faculty Leadership Development Seminar to bring together junior faculty from all over the United States. This seminar is designed to provide participants with "real-world guidance and tools for pursuing career advancement in academic medicine, developing key professional competencies, building skills in grant writing and communications, and lastly expanding their network of colleagues and role models." This year the seminar was held in Phoenix, Arizona and the Office of Inclusion and Diversity provided travel awards to Kenisha Campbell, MD, MPH, an Assistant Professor specializing in adolescent medicine at CHOP. Dr. Campbell serves…

NMA 116th Annual Conference

By Corrinne Fahl

The National Medical Association (NMA)’s Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly is acclaimed as the nation’s foremost forum on medical science and African American health. Each year, African American physicians and other health professionals from across the country convene to participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, discuss health policy priorities, and to share experience through networking opportunities.”NMA 116th Annual Conference

Recap of Health Equity Week 2018 Event: Join the Conversation: The Strategic Vision for Achieving Health Equity

By Corrinne Fahl

By Dominique Alexis

On Monday, April 02, 2018, The Office and Inclusion and Diversity partnered with Graduate Medical Education to host Health Equity Week 2018's first event, entitled Join the Conversation: The Strategic Vision for Achieving Health Equity.

 Moderator Eve J. Higginbotham, SM, MD, Vice Dean of the Office of Inclusion and Diversity sat down with leaders from different disciplines across the university. The panel included: PJ Brennan, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine and the Hospital of the…

Penn LDI: Koh Promotes Partnerships at Penn 2018 Health Equity Symposium

By Corrinne Fahl

Collaborating across public and private sectors

At Penn's fourth annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Health Equity Symposium, keynote speaker Howard Koh, MD, MPH, former Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), shared a motivating quote by Dr. King: “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, Dean of Penn's Perelman School of Medicine, opened the symposium by discussing the legacy of Dr. King, “a great example of how one person, with vision and leadership, can change the course of history in an important…

Getting to Know You

By Corrinne Fahl

October 16, 2017 | by Greg Richter

Starting today, Penn Medicine hospitals in Philadelphia are asking patients to share more information in their EHRs. For example, in addition to reporting their sex at birth, patients are now offered the opportunity to provide specific information about their gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as their ethnicity and preferred spoken and written language. The first such update in 10 years, the changes follow national Healthy People 20/20 recommendations as well as the Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Medicine) National Academies report on what to collect on patients' background and characteristics. Knowing…

Celebrating 100 years of women in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania during Women in Medicine Month

By Corrinne Fahl

In honor of Women in Medicine month, and the anniversary of Dr. Clara Hillesheim’s graduation, the Office of Inclusion and Diversity and the Penn Special Interest Group in Health Disparities and Health Equity hosted two former United States Surgeons General, to share their experiences.

Keeping Efforts to Build a More Inclusive Culture in the Forefront

By Corrinne Fahl

Keeping Efforts to Build a More Inclusive Culture in the Forefront

Eve J. Higginbotham SM, MD

A recent editorial written by former Treasury Secretary James Baker and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young in the Wall Street Journal, reminded us about the fundamental core values that we share as Americans. The authors provided a few historical touch points in addition to suggested paths forward as we aim to rekindle our shared purpose as a nation.  There was one specific phrase that stood out in particular: scripted more than 200 years ago, the enduring Latin phrase, "e pluribus unum", out of…

Penn Med Students Create App to Address LGBTQ Health Disparities Read - Phillymag

By Corrinne Fahl

SpectrumScores aims to connect LGBTQ patients with the right providers to cater to their unique needs.

Three University of Pennsylvania medical students have created an app that they hope will put an end to LGBTQ healthcare disparities.

SpectrumScores, being developed by Phil Williams, Jun Jeon, and Naveen Jain, plans to connect LGBTQ patients with the right providers to meet their unique needs. The concept came from the team's shared negative experiences with providers they described as "well-meaning but under-informed" coupled with their understanding of "how much of a significant impact an LGBTQ competent provider can make."

"SpectrumScores isn't just…

A Principled Man - The Pennsylvania Gazette

By Corrinne Fahl

When Nathan Mossell crossed the stage of Philadelphia’s Academy of Music to receive his medical diploma in the spring of 1882, his white peers saluted him with “almost deafening applause,” he wrote in his short autobiography. As an honor student graduating in the top quarter of his class, Mossell had triumphed over the virulent racism displayed by many of his classmates and professors. But now, with diploma in hand, Penn’s first black doctor gazed out upon the cheering young men, confident that despite the formidable odds he would surely face, his talent and persistence would enable him to triumph.…

H. Moses Murdock Presented his poster at the Annual Medical Education Conference

By Corrinne Fahl

H. Moses Murdock presented his poster entitled "Ranking Diversity: Quantifying UME Ethnic Diversity at Academic Medical Centers" at the Annual Medical Education Conference, held by the Student National Medical Association. 

Mr. Murdock:

• Graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida with Bachelor of Science Degree in Molecular Biology and Microbiology.
• Is a recipient of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Gamble Scholar Merit Scholarship.
• Served on the Diversity & Inclusion Student Advisory Council and Student's Opposing Racism at Penn (S.T.O.R.M.)
• Is a member of the SNMA Executive Board
• Wishes to continue research and provide care for underserved communities as…

Two Members of Penn Community Named “40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health

By Corrinne Fahl

The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) has honored two members of the Penn community with its 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health award, which recognizes the next generation of thought leaders in reducing healthcare disparities. Paris Butler, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of Plastic Surgery in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins, PhD, the vice-provost’s postdoctoral fellow in the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, will both receive their awards at the NMQF Leadership Summit on Health Disparities and Congressional Black Caucus…

Novello Inspires Action at 2017 Penn Health Equity Symposium

By Corrinne Fahl

AUTHOR: Janet Weiner, PhD, MPH and Nastasha Galperin 'No time for apathy or complacency'

Penn's third annual Martin Luther King Jr. Health Equity Symposium featured a keynote address by Antonia Novello, 14^th Surgeon General of the United States, who had a hopeful, yet challenging message: "Had Martin Luther King been here today, he would see that we are doing much better, but he would he would still be fighting. He would feel pride, disappointment, sadness, and he would be appalled that blacks and whites are still segregated."

Read more at Penn's Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics.

Celebrating Black History Month and Dr. Nathan Mossell

By Corrinne Fahl

Dr. Francis Nathan Mossell was the first African American to receive a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Nathan Francis Mossell, the son of Aaron and Eliza Bowers Mossell, was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on July 27, 1856. Nathan's father, Aaron Mossell, was a grandson of slaves, with a great-grandfather known to have been brought from West Africa. His wife Eliza came from a free Black family that had been deported to Trinidad with other such families when she was a child; she and Aaron met after she returned to Baltimore. During the Civil War, Aaron Mossell resettled…

A letter to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. From Cristo Rey Student T. Powell

By Corrinne Fahl

The Office of Inclusion and Diversity is working with the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice to sponsor a student from Cristo Rey High School for the 2016-17 school year. T. Powell, a senior at Cristo Rey, wrote the following letter to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as we celebrate his life and work with our annual Health Equity Symposium.

Dear Dr. King,

I’m accepted. Not in all places, but I am welcomed. I can say that you were off to a good start, but the job is not finished. Your letters and the March on Washington…

2017 Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Equity Symposium

By Corrinne Fahl

The Office of Inclusion and Diversity would like to thank everyone who was able to attend any of our events yesterday, as we honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s commitments and contributions to Health Equity. We were so happy to be able to bring Dr. Novello to share her experience and guidance, and Dr. Evans' passion for the necessity for equity in the field of oral health was truly inspiring. We hope to see an enthusiastic turn out next year, when Dr. Howard Koh will be our keynote speaker.

View the entirety of the symposium, available to stream. 

The…

Reflections on World AIDS Day and the Path Forward for our Nation’s Youth - Nadia Dowshen, MD

By Corrinne Fahl

For people living with HIV/AIDS or those of us who have devoted our careers to ending the HIV epidemic, this one day of the year to draw attention to HIV, a disease that after 30 years still kills thousands of people each day, sometimes seems inconsequential. But in the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election, this World AIDS Day has special meaning because of messages of racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia heard throughout the campaign. These very same forces of hate threaten the health and well-being of young people I care for who are living with and at-risk for HIV…

LGBT Health Program Creates Generational Chains of Mentorship

By Corrinne Fahl

Since Penn Medicine launched its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Health Program in 2014, the group's numerous initiatives have tackled diversity and inclusion in the workplace, classroom, and clinical settings, educated students and staff on LGBT health topics and disparities, and participated in community outreach, among other efforts.

Now, a new LGBT student-trainee-faculty mentorship program is tapping into a rich community of LGBT professionals at varying levels of medical careers to mentor LGBT students. 

Borne out of a meeting in January 2016 between Rosemary Thomas, program coordinator for Penn Medicine's Program for LGBT Health, and the School of…

Dr. Farzana Rashid Hossain, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Honored with a 2016 Women of Distinction Award

By Corrinne Fahl

Dr. Farzana Rashid Hossain has been selected for a 2016 Women of Distinction Award by the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Dr. Farzana Rashid Hossain has been selected for a 2016 Women of Distinction Award by the Philadelphia Business Journal. Dr. Rashid Hossain was also appointed to the Philadelphia Commission for Women by Mayor Kenney earlier this year. 

Rashid Hossain's honors and awards include the Health Care Heroes Award from Penn Medicine and the Radhika Srinivasan Award for Humanism and Professionalism at the division of Gastroenterology at Penn Medicine.

"Dr. Rashid Hossain is an outstanding physician who is committed to helping…

A Guest Blog from FOCUS: A Day for Women at Penn Med to Network, Engage in Leadership Mentoring, and Enjoy the Company of Colleagues

By Corrinne Fahl

September is Women in Medicine Month, an annual reminder to pause and remember the multitude of contributions women have made to the advancement of medicine.

September is Women in Medicine Month, an annual reminder to pause and remember the multitude of contributions women have made to the advancement of medicine. Dr. Helen Octavia Dickens, the University of Pennsylvania's first African American female full professor in the Medical School, was also the first African American Woman admitted to the American College of Surgeons.  Dr. Virginia Apgar introduced the first test to assess the health of newborn babies in 1953. Dr. Gertrude…

Why It is More Important Than Ever to Reveal the Hidden Curriculum in Educating the Next Generation of Physicians By Dr. Higginbotham

By Eve J. Higginbotham, SM, MD

A recent article by a medical student from Brown University raises the question about the understanding of how future generations of physicians consider the influence that the social construct of "race" has on medicine.

In her article entitled "The Hidden Curriculum" Brown continues the conversation about the intersect between racism and medicine that one of our very own Penn medical students, Mark Attiah[1] noted in a previous article, highlighting the benefits of considering the benefits of an inclusive environment, "where everyone feels included in the larger dialogue." While one perspective appears to be in opposition of the other, both…

National Research Priorities, Funding Announced for Tackling Health Disparities in Surgery Laura Newman and Jaya Aysola MD, DTMH, MPH

By Eve J. Higginbotham, SM, MD

The first national agenda to understand and address surgical disparities, announced by the National Institutes of Health and the American College of Surgeons, will likely foster much needed change in addressing ethnic disparities in surgical practice.  Research priorities were announced in the March 16 JAMA Surgery, and are based on an inaugural NIH-American College of Surgeons Symposium on Surgical Disparities Research, held in May 2015, at NIH. On April 18th, NIH announced a Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity, with the first R01 and R21 grant applications likely due in September, and the first awards expected in February…

So What Did We Learn About Health Equity at Our 2016 MLK Symposium?

By Eve J. Higginbotham, SM, MD

If you missed the 2016 MLK Symposium this year held on January 27, don't despair.  The Leonard Davis Institute posted a blog by Imran Cronk, which nicely summarizes what you missed:  http://ldi.upenn.edu/healthpolicysense/health-equity-symposium-features-fiery-carmona. In a nutshell, we were reminded about the perfect storm in which we consider our questions about health equity.  Nationally we have witnessed the clashes between the police and vulnerable communities, threats against fragile gains made since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, defunding of key pipeline initiatives, the reemergence of grassroots advocacy, and legal challenges in efforts to diversify the health professional workforce. A…

Health Equity: A Dream or An Achievable Goal?

By Eve J. Higginbotham, SM, MD

On January 27, 2016 PSOM will welcome Dr. Richard Carmona to campus as our second MLK Health Equity Keynote Speaker.

As the 17^th Surgeon General, Dr. Carmona made significant contributions in the areas of prevention, health disparities, health literacy, global health, and health diplomacy during his tenure.  His keynote presentation will be augmented by our own Penn faculty: Dr. Jerry Johnson, Jaya Aysola MD, DTMH, MPH, Tiffani Johnson, MD, MSc, Shreya Kangovi, MD, MS and C. Neil Epperson, MD.  At the end of this two hour discussion of challenges and solutions associated with achieving health equity, each of us…

The Lack of Progress in Moving the Needle on Poverty Reaffirms the Need for Healthcare Transformation

By Eve J. Higginbotham, SM, MD

There was good news and bad news out of Washington D.C. this week.

The good news is that the number of people without health insurance dropped in 2014 by 8.8 million, however there was no significant difference in the rates of poverty between the years of 2013 and 2014.[1] The annual report released by the U.S. Census Bureau[2] indicates for the fourth year in a row that rate of poverty was not significantly different from the previous year. Overall, more than 45 million Americans live in poverty, a number that seems staggering for one of the most affluent nations…

Advancing Health Equity, Thirty Years Following the Heckler Report

By Eve J. Higginbotham, SM, MD

This month, the Department of Health and Human Services celebrates National Minority Health Month and more specifically acknowledges the 30th anniversary of the Margaret Heckler's Report on Black and Minority Health.

This month, the Department of Health and Human Services celebrates National Minority Health Month and more specifically acknowledges the 30^th anniversary of the Margaret Heckler's Report on Black and Minority Health.[1] This report clearly "documented the existence of health disparities among, ethnic minorities in the United States and called such disparities "an affront both to our ideals and to the ongoing genius of American medicine."[2] …

All Lives Matter in Academic Medicine, Article By: Eve Higginbotham SM, MD, Diana Harris, MBe, PhD and Katherine Stamper, MBA

By Eve J. Higginbotham, SM, MD

While the focus recently has been on the twitter phrase, “black lives matter,” as a physician it is important to underscore the premise that all lives matter. Understandably, the amplitude of voices has increased over the past several months following the tragic deaths of unarmed black men – staunch reminders that implicit bias has had a role in shaping our country, our politics, and our hearts since the birth of our nation.

Academic medicine is certainly not exempt from such bias, with the recent perspective in the NEJM, Bias, Black Lives, and Academic Medicine, leaving the reader with an…

The Penn Medicine Program for LGBT Health - Strengthening Penn’s commitment to providing excellent care to the LGBT community

By Eve J. Higginbotham, SM, MD

Barriers such as decreased access to healthcare, lack of awareness and/or insensitivity to their unique health needs, and inequitable health system policies and practices put some members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community at a disadvantage in optimizing their physical and mental health. The Penn Medicine Program for LGBT Health works to address these health inequities and improve the care of all LGBT people.

Recently the Program worked with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and Chester County Hospital to complete the Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). As…