Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Why Diversity Matters
Excellence in medical education, clinical care and research are attained through our diversity of students, residents, fellows, faculty and staff. At Drexel University College of Medicine, having a diverse, equitable, inclusive environment is core to who we are. We engage in diverse experiences which address health inequities in an inclusive environment. These experiences occur in an array of settings, from attending at a homeless clinic, to helping a woman and her children who are victims of domestic violence, to conducting clinical research to decode the ‘why’ of health equity in outcome. This work ultimately results in helping tomorrow’s Drexel doctors and researchers to be superb in health care delivery and to lead the charge of innovation in the science of medicine.
Download the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion info sheet [PDF].
YOUR VOICE MATTERS – GET INVOLVED
The nation and our Drexel University College of Medicine community are once again saddened and outraged that another Black man is the victim of excessive police violence. On August 23, 2020, Jacob Blake was shot multiple times in the back by police in Wisconsin, in front of his three sons as they sat in the back of his car.
The College of Medicine condemns violence against the Black community, finding this and recent events intolerable. We, at the College of Medicine, absolutely believe that Black lives matter and are steadfast in our commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion.
This propagation of a history of implicit and explicit bias and institutionalized racism, in which violence against the Black community, particularly Black men, is pervasive, and is a public health crisis that impacts every social determinate of health. It permeates all aspects of life, including the basic right to bodily autonomy and safety.
The medical community has specifically had a difficult history inextricably intertwined with racism; we have much to atone for. Thus, we have much work to do. It is imperative that we remain unwavering in our work toward anti-racism, and advocate for systemic, effective change within our organization and community. As a community of compassionate educators, physicians, researchers, professional staff and students, we must continue to find ways to improve racial and social equity.
We must work together to dismantle racism and eliminate all forms of bias.
It is imperative that physicians, biomedical scientists, health educators and future physicians be heard. We ask you to become involved with our Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in our mission to create opportunity for all, as we strive to truly attain an equitable, inclusive environment at the College of Medicine and in the communities that we serve.
Please feel free to email bc858@drexel.edu or call 215.991.8450, to learn more about our office and explore ways to get involved.
Diversity News & Events
Coral Caceres Named Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Medical School Diversity Scholarship Winner
Buckfire Law, Southfield, Mich., is pleased to announce Coral Caceres, of Bogota, New Jersey, has been named this year’s recipient of the 2024 Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Medical School Diversity Scholarship. Caceres is currently a third-year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine, where she also earned a Master of Science through the Drexel Pathway to Medical School (DPMS) program. This annual award began in 2014 as a way for the Michigan-based law firm to show its commitment to helping medical students pursue their educational and career goals. Learn more.
Health Professionals Scholarship Awarded to Drexel MD Student
Drexel MD student Vershawn Hansen received a $20,000 award from Cook County (Illinois) Provident Scholarship Fund's Health Professionals Scholarship. The Health Professionals Scholarship provides scholarships to medical students and students in a graduate-level clinical academic program. The Health Professionals Scholarship will support awardees who are from, and dedicated to serving, underrepresented communities in Cook County. Learn more. Vershawn has also been awarded the SignatureCare Emergency Scholarship Award ($1000), the United Health Foundation Diversity in Healthcare Scholarship Award ($5000), the Arin Kel Memorial Scholarship ($500), and the WCEJ Thornton Foundation Scholarship ($1000).
Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, MEd, MPPM, professor and academic chair, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, recently participated in the filming of “The Ebony Canal,” a documentary about the crisis of infant mortality, particularly in Black and other communities of color. Information about the film, which was narrated by Viola Davis and directed by Emmy Award winner Emmai Alaquiva, is available at TheEbonyCanal.com. Read more.
The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) Region III Conference, held on October 5, 2024, at Drexel University College of Medicine’s Health Sciences Building, brought together pre-health students, medical students, physicians and health professionals from schools across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, D.C., West Virginia and Maryland. Read more.
“I am thankful for the experiences and opportunities LMSA offers and for the chance to work alongside such passionate students and physicians. My time working with this fantastic organization has been invaluable in shaping both my professional and personal development. Along with providing me with a deeper understanding of the health care disparities that impact Hispanic and other communities, LMSA has also allowed me to grow as an individual, a student and a leader.” Meet Josh Salas, co-president of Latino Medical Student Association's College of Medicine chapter. Read more.
Read more diversity news and events.
Diversity Statement
Drexel University College of Medicine, in the tradition of our predecessor schools, Woman's Medical College and Hahnemann Medical College, recruits and supports a diverse medical school faculty, professional staff and student body.
- It is only with a commitment to diversity that the mission and vision of the College can be realized.
- Each individual and her/his ideas have value and contribute positively to the mission and vision of the College.
- Learning with a diverse faculty and student body enhances critical thinking and the educational experience.
- Students who learn in a diverse environment are better prepared to provide the highest level of professionalism, innovation and creativity to all aspects of patient care, education and research.
- Our definition of diversity comprises characteristics that include but are not limited to race; color; religion; gender; sexual orientation, identity and expression; national origin; age; disability; veteran status; and education or economic disadvantage.
Drexel University College of Medicine is firmly committed to producing a diverse population of physicians and scientists. Supported by the Mission and Vision Statements of the College of Medicine, the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion provides support to all students and student groups regardless of:
- Race or national origin
- Color
- Religion
- Gender
- Sexual orientation, identity, and expression
- Age
- Disability
- Veteran status
- Education or economic disadvantage
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