INTENTIONAL EMPOWERMENT
Bridging the Gap : A Blueprint for Advancing Health Equity and Educational Support
Introduction
10 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE
by KIANA FIELDS , MS AND V . FAYE JONES , MD , PHD , MSP
The University of Louisville Health Sciences Center ( HSC ) campus has a longstanding commitment to the intellectual , cultural and economic development and overall health of our diverse communities . Over the years , establishing the HSC Office of Diversity and Inclusion ( HSCODI ) expanded this standing commitment to promoting growth and equity . From its inception , the office has aimed to provide evidence-based resources , advocacy and initiatives that promote discovery and connection to improve all constituencies ’ learning and working environments to encourage better health outcomes . For over a decade , the HSCODI has successfully implemented these aims through transformative programmatic and curricular initiatives , pathway programs for prospective health professional students , community-based research and the establishment of critical partnerships internal and external to the university . This article will reflect on the successes and future direction of HSCODI during a continuously changing and diversifying environment .
In 2013 , the HSC Office of Diversity and Inclusion was created to support the needs of learners and the workforce on the HSC campus , building upon successful initiatives previously within the
School of Medicine . By expanding its reach , the office has implemented an interprofessional framework that supports health professionals ’ current and future needs by establishing partnerships with the HSC Schools of Dentistry , Medicine , Nursing , Public Health & Information Sciences and the surrounding community . Central to the services and work conducted , our commitment is to celebrate all our constituents ’ diverse perspectives , thoughts , experiences , belief systems and cultures while striving to create an environment where everyone feels accepted and valued . This commitment has paved the way for each of the schools on HSC to offer curricula devoted to culturally centered care , provided opportunities for research related to social determinants of health and health care disparities and created opportunities to support the development of pre-health baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate students matriculating into HSC .
Current Services
HSCODI offers services that focus on building , developing and strengthening our community through the following strategic priorities : recruitment and retention , education and training , research and scholarship , strategic partnerships , leadership support and development , and climate and infrastructure . Each strategy