Introducing Mark D. Siegel, MD, of the Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine.
What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you personally?
A commitment to embracing people from all backgrounds, ensuring equal opportunity for everyone regardless of background, and making sure all members of our community feel equally valued. It also means a commitment to recruiting and retaining trainees and faculty from a variety of backgrounds, offering equivalent opportunities and treatment to all members of our department, and ensuring that all voices and concerns are heard. These goals are particularly pertinent to groups who are traditionally marginalized, especially Black and Latino physicians.
Why do you value diversity?
Diversity enriches our medical community and provides opportunities to groups that have been traditionally excluded.
Why should an academic setting be equal and inclusive?
First, it's simply the right thing to do. Second, we need all people to succeed for our medical school, residency, and department. If we're not equal and inclusive, we perpetuate longstanding marginalization of traditionally underrepresented groups.
What do you look forward to most?
That we will live up to our ideals.
Other thoughts?
I appreciate the explicit efforts to promote DEI, as well as specific efforts, such as the creation of the RBAM Distinction pathway for residents. And since I recruit residents, I am committed to contributing to our department's success and learning from my colleagues.
The Department of Internal Medicine’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Internal Medicine knows that diversity, equity, and inclusion is critical to our mission; that providing a safe, welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds results in beneficial diversity of thought; and believes that having a diverse team enhances our ability to provide excellent clinical care, research, and medical education.