Dinner Introduces Future Residents to Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital

“We are here to support you,” said Darin Latimore, MD, deputy dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; chief diversity officer; and associate professor of medicine (general medicine); Yale School of Medicine, as he addressed the audience at the ballroom of the Omni Hotel.

“We would be extraordinarily honored to have each one of you here. You are incredible. You are here because you deserve this seat,” he continued.

Latimore was one of the seven Yale School of Medicine (YSM), Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS), and Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) leaders who spoke to the 200 participants and 107 visiting students from around the country at the YSM and YNHH Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce Dinner on February 8, 2024.

Benjamin Mba, MBBS, MRCP (UK), CHCQM, FACP, vice chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Department of Internal Medicine, YSM, and Graduate Medical Education (GME) Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale School of Medicine, served as the emcee of the evening’s event. He hoped the event’s audience would “see who we are, what we value, and what we aspire to be.”

“Across all the training programs at Yale and Yale New Haven Hospital, we share some things in common. We are as good as any in the country and the world, and we are a lot nicer than most,” said Mba.

Stephen Huot, MD, PhD, professor of medicine (nephrology) and senior associate dean for Graduate Medical Education (YSM), arrived at Yale for his residency and “has been at Yale ever since.” He shared his background of growing up in New Hampshire, attending college in Vermont and medical school in North Carolina, and how those experiences shaped him.

“I have stayed at Yale in large part because I have many shared values with my colleagues. I've grown as a person; I've grown as a doctor. The values of humility and kindness, and recognizing the importance of that in a very busy environment we're in every day is part of what makes that work way more joyful than it is stressful,” stated Huot.

Other presenters included Emergency Medicine Resident Reba Gillis, MD, MBS; Michael Holmes, MSA, executive vice president and chief operating officer, YNHH; Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, YNHH, Ena Williams, PhD, MBA, RN, CENP; Lou Hart, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics (hospital medicine), YSM; and medical director of health equity, YNHHS; and Thomas Balcezak, MD, MPH, executive vice president and chief clinical officer, YNHHS.

Gillis is president of the YNHH’s Minority Housestaff Organization, and celebrated that the event was held in person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Holmes examined the health system’s history and how others “set the stage for him and many others to follow.” Williams discussed the 7000+ nurses across Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) and their culture of excellence. Hart talked about the opportunity the future residents will have to “serve the most deserving patients,” and some exciting equity initiatives underway across YNHHS’ five hospitals. Balcezak shared the health system’s deep commitment to equity, “the idea that our patients deserve better on everything safety, equity, quality, is a thread across our organization.”

Before the conclusion of the speaker portion of the event, Mba thanked Lori Williams and Karen McCausland for their months of work behind the scenes preparing the evening and the staff who assisted during the event: Cat Gomez-Stafford, Tatianna Hilton, Deborah Lewis, Brett Marks, Sarah Ngongi-Wumba, Julie Parry, and Eduardo Reyes.

The annual YSM and YNHH Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce Dinner began in 2017 and continues to grow in popularity. The night was made possible by support from numerous clinical departments across YSM, including the Departments of Internal Medicine; Surgery; Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences; Psychiatry; Pediatrics; and Emergency Medicine; the YSM Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; the YNHHS Office of Diversity & Inclusion; the YNHH Medical Staff Office, and the YNHH Office of Graduate Medical Education.

The Department of Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine is among the nation's premier departments, bringing together an elite cadre of clinicians, investigators, educators, and staff in one of the world's top medical schools. To learn more, visit Internal Medicine.