The Diversity and Inclusion Office at UMass Chan Medical School has opened registration for its annual Diversity Summit to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the Faculty Conference Room of the Medical School building, with a virtual option from 10 a.m. to noon. for those unable to attend the event in person.
The program will begin with a poster session where members of the UMass Chan community will present the transformative work they are doing related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The poster session will be followed by a dynamic program featuring speakers Marcus Lambert, PhD, associate vice president for research at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University; and Su Joun, principal at Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group LLC.
Dr. Lambert spearheads initiatives to expand SUNY Downstate’s extramurally funded research portfolio, particularly focusing on health disparities and public health research and training. He co-leads multiple research training programs, including TRANSPORT, a $20 million endowment grant aimed at recruiting and training underrepresented scientists in health disparities research.
Lambert’s talk will focus on faculty recruitment and retention and why commitment to this initiative is pertinent to the Medical School’s overall diversity, equity and inclusion strategy.
In her work at Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group, Joun works with organizations to diversify their workforce and create inclusive, equitable work environments through consultation and training. Prior to her current role, Joun served as the vice president of talent, diversity and inclusion at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Joun will strive to motivate and guide listeners into next steps by putting the onus on the collective to foster accountability and change through a shift in organizational culture.
The Diversity Summit will be presented through the S.P.A.R.K framework, which emphasizes the permeation of diversity, equity and inclusion principles in every aspect of an organization and focuses on amplifying the voices of marginalized communities through direct services and advocacy, creating an inclusive environment. The event will conclude with a time of recommitment to the work of diversity, equity and inclusion at UMass Chan. Registration is open for in-person and for virtual attendance.
