Inclusion: Tapping Human Capacity

| Aug 8, 2012 1:00 PM

As you may already know, we are delighted to have recruited Evelyn Gopez, M.D., as our new AVP for Inclusion. Many of you know Evelyn in her roles in the pathology department and as assistant dean for diversity and community outreach, and I’m sure you agree she brings terrific experience and perspective to her new position.

In my Martin Luther King, Jr. address in January (LINK), I spoke about the need to consider inclusion and diversity as key pillars of our strategic plan. Carol Moseley Braun put it so well when she said, "The appeal of diversity is its unlimited potential to tap human capacity.” Data show that decisions are better when the decision-making team includes diverse perspectives.

In science, research is being advanced primarily by diverse, interdisciplinary teams.  We are expanding inter-professional education opportunities because we know that for health care professionals to work effectively as teams, they should train as teams. To accomplish this we must have a culture in which individuals feel free to express their views, no matter how divergent.  One sign of success for us in the health sciences will come when we really start to address health disparities and can ensure that all patients, regardless of  background, receive excellent health care and can expect to live long, healthy lives.

We at the University embrace inclusion and diversity if we’re to advance the educational, research, and clinical missions. It’s not a political viewpoint. It’s just common sense.