The Yale Department of Neurosurgery at the Yale School of Medicine is pleased to announce the appointment of Juan Bartolomei, MD, to the position of Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the department.
Our department is proud to have people from a wide range of backgrounds all working in pursuit of a common mission: to improve people's lives through neurosurgical research and patient care. In light of the discussion the country is having around racial diversity, we acknowledge that we have a lot of work to do as well and created this position last month to further our commitment to diversity. We believe that a more equitable department is more beneficial to everybody, and allows us to provide more excellent care, and continue to conduct top-notch research.
Dr. Bartolomei, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, started his medical school education at Yale School of Medicine, residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, and went on to complete a spine fellowship at Barrow Neurological Institute. He served as Vice President of Spine Team Texas and Vice Chairman of Surgery Texas Health Rockwall Hospital, Vice Chief of Staff and Medical Executive Board Member for Texas Health Southlake Hospital, before returning to New Haven to become an assistant clinical professor at the department of neurosurgery. In 2013, he was named one of US News and World Report’s top doctors, and in April 2020, he was appointed co-director of the Yale Spine Center.
He has also been actively involved in multicultural organization and leadership positions serving the underrepresented communities in Milwaukee and New Haven throughout his educational career.
As the Vice Chair, Dr. Bartolomei leads the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, which also comprises Drs. Eyiyemisi Damisah, Stephanie Robert, Adam Kundishora, Aladine Elsamadicy, Michael Apuzzo, researcher, Dr. Angeliki Louvi, medical student Danielle Miyagishima, and staff members Kanwal Haq and Jenny Chen. The committee was recently created to integrate a diverse group of individuals within the department and provide each member of the department a sense of purpose and belonging. This recognition will allow them to feel accepted, respected, and valued, providing a culture of equality and reverence.