News

Dr. Laxmi Mehta is the Lead Author of a New American Heart Association Statement on Maternal Health
Laxmi Mehta, MD, professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, director of the Lipid Clinics and section director of Preventive Cardiology and Women’s Cardiovascular Health at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, outlined a three-pronged approach for achieving maternal health equity in the new American Heart Association policy statement, Call to Action: Maternal Health and Saving Mothers. The approach outlined by Dr. Mehta aims to improve health outcomes for women before, during and after pregnancy and addresses maternal health care inequities.

Research Initiative Aims to Improve Health Outcomes for Black Women
Timiya Nolan, PhD, APRN-CNP, assistant professor in the College of Nursing, and Joshua Joseph, MD, MPH, assistant professor of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, have created the Partnering in Negative Statistics (PINS) research initiative to uplift the health of Black women and improve wellness. PINS will engage with community members and local organizations to help develop the best approach to improving outcomes for Black women in their communities.

Health Equity and Anti-Racism Report 2021
This inaugural health equity and anti-racism report provides a snapshot of what our teams have achieved through partnering with our community this year, introduces programs that have long been part of Ohio State’s legacy of caring for its neighbors and highlights areas in which we hope to improve and have a sustainable impact. View the 2021 report here. 

Pusateri Wins Quinn Capers Award for DEI Efforts
The Dr. Quinn Capers Award for Promoting Diversity and Inclusion recognizes an outstanding Internal Medicine trainee who embodies the passion and commitment to expanding diversity and inclusion efforts as demonstrated by Dr. Quinn Capers during his time at Ohio State. Each year, the DEI Advisory Council Education subcommittee, vice chairs, residency director, and IM chiefs will select an Internal Medicine resident who has championed diversity and made exceptional efforts to help create an inclusive environment at Ohio State. Congratulations to the 2021 recipient of the Dr. Quinn Capers Award, Antoinette Pusateri, MD.

JAMA Open Study Evaluates Diversity in Academic Leadership
Diversity in academic leadership is critical in fostering innovative solutions to dynamic challenges in medicine and meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse workforce.1 Prior studies2 have documented underrepresentation of some racial and ethnic groups in academia and in the departmental chair position; however, it is unknown whether these disparities persist currently and whether they are reflected similarly within individual specialties. Consequently, this study evaluates equitable racial and ethnic diversity among departmental chairs and evaluates the racial/ethnic composition of faculty in academia, which is the pipeline for medical leadership. Daniel Addison, MD, is a co-author of this paper. Read more. 

Ohio State Cardiologist Among Those Highlighting Disparities in Heart Attack Outcomes
A recent study confirms that Black people from under-resourced neighborhoods are significantly more likely to die within five years of surviving a heart attack than Black people from wealthier neighborhoods and white people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. A recent Healthline article reviews the research, discusses ways clinicians can help improve outcomes and includes comments from Ohio State’s Sakima Smith, MD, MPH, a heart failure transplant cardiologist, associate professor of Internal Medicine and associate vice chair of Diversity and Inclusion. 

Wexner Medical Center ranked on “America’s Best Employers for Diversity” list
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center has been recognized on Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Employers for Diversity.” We are ranked #12 among hospitals on the national list and #2 among hospitals in Ohio. This recognition highlights the medical center’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and validates our progress in attracting, developing and retaining a diverse and inclusive team. Thank you to all who have played a role in making this possible.

STAT: After 40 years, medical schools are admitting fewer Black male or Native American students
While Black male medical students accounted for 3.1% of the national medical student body in 1978, in 2019 they accounted for just 2.9%. Without the contribution of historically Black medical schools, just 2.4% would be Black men. The number of Native American students also declined, accounting for just a fraction of 1% of the nation’s roughly 22,000 medical students in 2019. “It is absolutely dismal and appalling and quite frankly unacceptable,” said Dr. Demicha Rankin, an anesthesiologist and associate dean of Admissions for The Ohio State University College of Medicine, where 25% of students come from underrepresented minority groups. Read more. 

Not Your Model Minority: Asian Students Speak Out – Inspire Podcast

A Guilty Verdict, A Sigh of Relief: College presidents, student leaders, and scholars welcomed the outcome of the trial of Derek Chauvin even as they renewed their resolve to stem persistent racial inequities in higher education.

To Build a Diverse Company for the Long Term, Develop Junior Talent

Upcoming Events

Approaches to Reducing Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Mortality: Improved Risk Prediction for Black Women
Oct. 22
8 a.m.
Zoom - Password 905229

Julie Palmer, ScD, MPH
Karin Grunebaum Professor
Department of Medicine
Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology
Boston University School of Medicine

Dr. Palmer, who also serves as director of the Slone Epidemiology Center, is a cancer epidemiologist whose research spans early detection, etiology and survivorship. Her primary focus is on elucidating reasons for the disproportionately high incidence of hormone receptor-negative breast cancer in African American women, and on understanding and reducing racial disparities in breast cancer mortality.

Caste - Isabel Wilkerson
December 13
Noon - 1 p.m.
Book discussion with moderators Kyle Strickland and Tanya Matthews. Register here.

Past Events

Clinical Trials and Underrepresented Minorities: Mistrust, Misconceptions, Missed Opportunities and Moving Forward to Enhance Diversity
Recording here. 

Resources

• Ohio State Wexner Medical Center: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• College of Medicine: Women in Medicine and Science - May 2021 Newsletter 
• College of Medicine: Diversity and Inclusion
• Ohio State Office of Diversity and Inclusion
• Ohio State Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
• Ohio State Office of Equity, Diversity, and Global Engagement
• Outreach and Engagement

• How to be a More Inclusive Mentor

• How to Stand Up for Equity in Higher Education: Moving beyond symbolism and virtue signaling.

Advisory Council

The Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council is comprised of faculty members from each clinical division in the department. The council will work with the vice chairs towards enhancing diversity and inclusion efforts in the Department of Internal Medicine.