I am feeling quite reflective this month, since it is the last time that I will address you in this message. Since I began my career in medicine almost 27 years ago, I have worked to better care for underserved patients through connecting directly with the community, and the recruitment and retention of staff, trainees and faculty of diverse backgrounds.
When I was recruited to join Yale School of Medicine and the Department of Internal Medicine in 2005, I joined the team at the Adult Medicine Primary Care Center (PCC) at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH). Working in this role to improve access and quality of care to our patients, advance science and enhance the education of our department’s residents was a joy.
In 2016, I was appointed as the inaugural associate chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the department. In this role, I have been honored to serve alongside and partner with department, school, university, and health system leadership, our diversity committee, and more recently the staff and vice chiefs within the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Internal Medicine (ODEIM) to share a message of inclusivity. It was an honor to deliver my October 2021 Medical Grand Rounds on this work.
In my role with the Graduate Medical Education office, I was grateful to be able to recruit more URiM residents to Yale, work with the Minority Housestaff Organization and the Diversity Council, and create curriculum to teach trainees how to speak up against bias, microaggressions, and stereotypes. What an honor it has been to work with the future leaders in medicine.
While the next step in my career takes me away from this wonderful institution, I know all the spectacular people my husband Terrence and I have met along the way will stay with us. Thank you for bringing us into the Yale family.
Together we have done so much work in diversity, equity, and inclusion here at Yale, but there is more to be done. While a national search will be conducted to fill my role, Vandana Khungar, MD, MSc; Aba Black, MD, MHS; and Stephen Huot, MD, PhD; will join forces to do this work. Look for an announcement from Gary V. Desir, MD, and Steve later today with more details.
For this month’s “Voices of DEI,” we highlight Sheela Shenoi, MD, MPH. You can read this column on the website and via social media. If you wish to participate, complete the survey at this link.
As always, thank you for all you do to make Yale a better place.
Sincerely,
Inginia Genao, MD, FACP
Associate Chair, Diversity & Inclusion
GME Director, Diversity & Inclusion