The following message was sent to the Yale Department of Psychiatry community by John H. Krystal, MD, Chair of the Yale Department of Psychiatry.
I am extremely pleased to announce the promotion of Cindy A. Crusto, PhD, to the position of Deputy Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Department of Psychiatry effective August 1, 2020. Dr. Crusto was previously the Assistant Chair for Diversity in the Department, a role she held since 2016.
Given our commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and addressing the legacy of racism in the Department, it is critical that we devote resources in a manner that will increase our effectiveness. Dr. Crusto has extensive knowledge of DEI research and practice fields and the experience needed to bring about the change that we seek.
Dr. Crusto is Associate Professor of Psychiatry (Psychology Section) and she has had a long-standing role in addressing DEI in the Department. Since 2015, she has been the Coordinator of the Diversity Concentration within the Doctoral Internship in Clinical and Community Psychology Training Program. She also has been the Co-Chair of the Psychology Section Diversity Committee since 2016. She was a member of the Department’s Diversity Task Force (2014-2016), which became a standing committee in 2016. For the past four years she has co-chaired the Diversity Committee, comprised of over 15 faculty, staff, and trainees working collaboratively to increase the number of women and individuals who are underrepresented in medicine in the department and to ensure an inclusive and equitable environment.
In addition to these roles, Dr. Crusto co-chairs the School of Medicine’s Minority Organization for Retention and Expansion (MORE) and is a member of the Committee on the Status of Women in Medicine (SWIM) Executive Committee. Finally, she is a member of the faculty subcommittee of President Salovey’s Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. These roles allow for collaboration from across the school of medicine and university for a more coordinated approach to DEI.
In addition, Dr. Crusto’s expanded role will include co-chairing an Anti-Racism Task Force with me. We hope to provide more information about this Task Force in the near future.