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 injustice and unifying Penn Medicine as an anti-racist, equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization. As we celebrate this month, we also ask that you commit to creating a better future and working together to ensure all are heard and represented. 

This month, OIDE will host a learning session on Restorative Practices here at PSOM.  Restorative practice is a social science that studies how to improve and repair relationships between people and communities. We chose Black History month to introduce restorative practices because it serves as way to educate ourselves about how past and present experiences of African Americans can help us to understand and transform the impact of systemic racism. Additionally, Restorative Practices is an evidenced based approach toward continuing conversations and action around the roles everyone can play in promoting racial justice and healing. We are also pleased to highlight the events from Princeton hospital and an event this next week which illuminates the work of one of our very own medical students, Ms. Jasmine Brown.

Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity,

Eve Higginbotham MD, SM, ML
Kya Hertz, CDP
Corrie Fahl, M.Ed
Jack Drummond