On January 27, 2022, we teamed with colleagues across Yale School of Medicine, and Yale New Haven Health to host the 5th annual recruitment dinner for potential underrepresented in medicine (URiM) residents. We had over 250 medical students on the virtual event. Read more about the event in this story.
On the call, I discussed the writing of my personal autobiographical essay, “An MD Made in America,” which was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in January 2020. I waited so long to write and share this essay because I was concerned about the discrimination I might encounter upon its publication. I shared my heartache after two of the reviewers gave hurtful comments on the piece. The editor urged me to ignore them, which I did. As I shared the work around our community, I hope it came as no surprise that my Yale family embraced the piece, and me. I have learned so much from this experience. Our backgrounds and experiences have shaped us into the people we are today, and I would like to encourage you to share your story.
Leading the development of the URiM dinner is always one of the high points of my year. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible: Dean Nancy J. Brown, Drs. Keith Churchwell, Stephen Huot, and representatives from Minority Organization for Retention and Expansion (MORE); Diversity, Inclusion, Community Engagement, and Equity (DICE); YNHHS Office of Diversity & Inclusion; YNHH Medical Staff Fund, and the Graduate Medical Education Office. We showcased all the fantastic aspects of Yale and hope that the medical students in attendance choose Yale as their preferred residency location.
For this month’s “Voices of DEI,” we highlight Robert Alpern, MD. You can read this column on the website and via social media. If you wish to participate, complete the survey at this link.
Happy Lunar New Year to those who celebrate the holiday.
Please contact me with any questions regarding the department’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and/or the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Internal Medicine (ODEIM). As always, thank you for all you do to make Yale a better place.
Sincerely,
Inginia Genao, MD, FACP
Associate Chair, Diversity & Inclusion