Advancing Equity in Cancer Prevention and Control

In recognition of Minority Health Month, the School of Medicine's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will be hosting a presentation from Arnethea Sutton, Ph.D. Titled Advancing Equity in Cancer Prevention and Control, this virtual presentation will discuss the current state of cancer prevention and control and the ongoing and needed efforts to reduce disparities all through an equity-focused lens. This event is open to all.

Monday, April 29, 2024, noon - 1:00 p.m. 

Learn more and register here.

Arnetha Sutton, Ph.D. headshot (resize)

Campus-Wide Events

  • March 28

    Answering the Call: Thriving as Men of Color in Healthcare

    Thursday, March 28, 2024 | 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

    The Office of Inclusive Excellence, Ethics and Community Engagement at VCU School of Dentistry is thrilled to invite you to "Answering the Call: Thriving as Men of Color in Healthcare." This event will be an incredible opportunity for connection, networking and mentorship from and amongst men of color who are pre-health professions undergraduates, professional students, residents, faculty or staff on the Health Sciences Campus. 

    This event will be held in the VCU School of Dentistry Perkinson Building, room 3121 

    Learn more and register here. 

  • April 12

    Belonging Matters: Whys and Hows of Building a Culture of Belonging in Health Care (DEI Lunch and Learn Series)

    Friday, April 12, 2024, noon – 1:00 p.m.

    Kevin Harris, Ph.D., and various other departmental DEI leaders will co-host a series of discussions for our colleagues/learners to come to a common understanding of what DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging) is and how it functions within our work, academic and clinical environments.

    Presenters: Ana Mills, Psy.D., Kevin Harris, Ph.D. 

    This event will be held in MMEC, room 3-101 and on Zoom. 

    Learn more and register here. 

  • April 17

    Celebrate Diversity Month: A Conversation with Mark Divens

    Wednesday, April 17, 2024, noon - 1:00 p.m.

    In honor of Celebrate Diversity Month, the VCU Health Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will host a special event featuring a conversation with VCU Health's Mark Divens about the power of connection, community, camaraderie and change in health care. 

    This event will be held in the Egyptian Building Auditorium and on Zoom. 

    Join the simulcast here. 

  • April 22

    Wellness Matters: I’m OK – You’re OK: The Employee/Learner Wellness Imperative (DEI Lunch and Learn Series)

    Monday, April 22, 2024, noon – 1:00 p.m.

    To develop a shared understanding of wellness from an individual and organizational perspective, this lunch and learn session, hosted by Jennifer Gilbert, Psy.D., L.C.P., Deborah DiazGranados, Ph.D., and Kevin Harris, Ph.D., will discuss wellness and mental health in the context of the workplace and a DEI framework. We will discuss individual and organizational supports needed to build a community of wellness and support positive mental health. 

    This event will be held in MMEC, room 3-101 and on Zoom. 

    Learn more and register here. 

  • Ongoing

    Dialogue to Action: Community-building Circles to Foster a Culture of Respect and a Shared Sense of Belonging

    See specific times and dates below

    The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is launching a new resource to foster more meaningful intergroup relationships and communications. Open to all, this series seeks to create a sense of belonging through the sharing of stories, active listening and building and strengthening relationships and connections.

    Friday, April 5, 2024, noon – 1:00 p.m.
    This event will be held in MMEC, room 3-101
    Learn more and register here.

  • Ongoing

    Stepping In 4 Respect Workshops

    See specific times and dates below

    Learn to support your School of Medicine colleagues and address discrimination and other forms of mistreatment in our clinical and learning environments. These interactive workshops utilize video scenarios, interactive debriefing discussions and improvisation experiences to help participants learn how to use a positive approach to addressing discriminatory behavior in the health care environment. While the workshops are clinically focused, the skills taught are transferable to non-clinical settings. These in-person workshops are open to all.

    Friday, May 3, 2024, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
    This event will be held in MMEC, room 3-101
    Learn more and register here.

    Thursday, July 11, 2024, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
    This event will be held in MMEC, room 3-101
    Learn more and register here.

DEI in the News

Dialogue: What We Believe

We reaffirm the core values of human dignity and of mutual, unconditional respect, and we acknowledge our responsibility to condemn racism and all forms of discrimination.

Our students, trainees, faculty, staff, alumni and community members are valued partners who provide essential perspective and context for how we more forthrightly conduct this work. Listening is the first step in making meaningful change, and we are inspired and humbled by the feedback and engagement from our School of Medicine community.

Join the conversation

Action: What We Are Doing

We are collaborating across our campus, health system and university to foster a welcoming community that supports and values people of all cultural backgrounds and life experiences and makes our medical school a more diverse and representative place to work.

Cultivating such an environment is essential to the fulfillment of our mission to improve the quality of health care for humanity, and we are committed to engaging in dialogue across the breadth of our community to fuel our short-term, mid-range and long-term actions.

Read more about our initiatives

Engagement

Where We Are Headed

As a pivotal step in turning dialogue into action, the School of Medicine is proud to announce its inaugural Inclusion Council. Members include students, trainees, faculty, staff, alumni and community members who are dedicated to this vital journey.

We remain committed to communicating openly and forthrightly about pertinent developments and activities moving forward, and we welcome your continued input, advocacy and engagement.

Learn more

Learn more about other efforts to address race, diversity, equity and inclusion across VCU’s campuses and in the community.

DEI Resources