Diversity Efforts

The Department of Dermatology is committed to providing outstanding and equitable care to all patients in our diverse community and to ensuring that all members of our community are treated with respect. We are enriched by equity, diversity and inclusivity, and we reject racism, discrimination and violence. We are working to educate ourselves so that we can provide dermatologic care that honors equity across races, ethnic backgrounds, gender and sexuality.  We aim to train residents from diverse experiences, backgrounds, faiths and genders to help meet the health care needs of our entire patient population. We have a holistic approach to residency selection that focuses on the individual and we look for individuals most likely to contribute in meaningful ways to our specialty in the future. We are striving to create a provider group that reflects the immense diversity of our patient population and the communities we serve inside and outside of Central Massachusetts.

The UMass Chan Department of Dermatology celebrates diversity in our patients, staff and faculty. We value diversity in all forms, including but not limited to: (dis)ability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, family of origin, socioeconomic status, health status and individual experience. In a field where nationally diversity is lacking, the Department of Dermatology has chosen to establish a Diversity Committee, chaired by Dr. McLean and Dr. Richmond. The committee is prioritizing the following:

• recruitment and retention of diverse residents, faculty and staff, including creation of a supportive environment and mechanisms for feedback, growth and improvement;
• outreach to local community high school, college and premedical students to create a pipeline to the medical/dermatological field, including mentoring and hands-on opportunities;
• opportunities for clinical and bench research in dermatology for URM (underrepresented minority) students;
• infusing preclinical, resident and fellow curricula with additional learning resources regarding dermatological issues faced by people of color and issues facing transgender patients, to ensure all trainees are equipped to treat a diverse patient population; and
• improving accessibility of additional training and education for clinic staff to increase professional growth, such as pursuing advanced degrees or certifications.

DEI Bookclub and Podcast Discussions

We are constantly striving to educate ourselves through DEI book club and podcast discussions held once per semester. Content covered to date includes:

• So You Want to Talk About Race - Ijeoma Oluo
• The Savvy Ally - Jeannie Gainsburg
• This Chair Rocks - Ashton Applewhite
• Cultural Competency in Healthcare - HDI Health & Wellness
• Doctors With Disabilities: Perseverance in Practice - Mass General Hospital
• I'm Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much - Stella Young
• Cultural Differences in Health Care - Healthy Androscoggin
• Health Equity Rounds: Exploring Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Cases - Mass General for Children