Introducing Vandana Khungar, MD, MSc, of the Section of Digestive Diseases, as part of the Voices of DEI feature.
What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you personally?
Diversity should mean that a group of employees, whether physicians, nurses, or staff, and students should be composed of many different groups. If one of those groups has been systematically ignored for generations, then special efforts need to be made to lift that group up. True diversity includes diversity of gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and interests. In a truly inclusive environment, everyone should feel welcome in their place of work or school or when seeking medical care. Ideally, one should not be aware of their identifying characteristics unless one wants to be when working. Worrying about bias is an added layer of stress that adds another element of difficulty for the person experiencing bias. An inclusive environment values individuals for their contributions and their unique characteristics, rather than forcing them to conform to a preset standard. Equity is a concept I hold very dear as a transplant physician and as a woman of color. While equality treats everyone identically regardless of need or circumstances, equity allows for increasing resources to those with greater need. We need to recognize that some groups have not had the same opportunities or respect and deserve resources to account for these disparities.
Why do you value diversity?
Diversity improves everyone's lives as we learn from those unlike ourselves. Often, traveling to another country is the most educational experience despite our many degrees. Meeting and associating with people unlike ourselves is one of the greatest privileges and allows for more unique thoughts and better end products. Some of the best ideas come from the most unexpected places. Our patients are diverse in socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity and we should know how to relate to them and truly empathize with them. Whether in clinical care, research, or life, a more diverse group of people will always allow for a richer and more enjoyable experience.
Why should an academic setting be equal and inclusive?
For each person who is not included, we as an academic community are losing out on what could have been the next groundbreaking idea or advance in medicine. Our learners, whether students or housestaff, follow our example. They should feel that they are in a safe environment 100% of the time and they deserve to come to work every day loving what they do and feeling empowered to do it to the fullest of their abilities. If an academic environment cannot espouse these ideals, it is very difficult to expect them from everyone. We should set an example of what true diversity of thought and inclusivity can achieve.
What do you look forward to most?
I look forward to interacting in a new era where hopefully diversity and inclusion are not lip service and we can make a true difference for everyone in our workplace. I look forward to creating a culture for the newer generation so that our students do not have to worry about inclusion in the way that people of our generation have had to.
Other thoughts?
We need people of every background at the table. I have been on women's committees and minority committees where only women or minorities were present. While those events have their place, if we truly hope to change the culture, everyone must be present and we should be able to serve as allies for our colleagues or trainees when they are part of a group more disadvantaged than our own. Our goal should be to set new social norms so that diversity, equity and inclusion become the default setting for all members of the medical center.
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.