Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion - Our Commitment to You

No matter one’s race, ethnicity, culture, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or religion, all are welcomed and included at The Ohio State University Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion can be seen every day in the collaboration between students, faculty and staff on our campus.

Leadership at both the College of Medicine and the Wexner Medical Center considers diversity an essential part our academic mission. A diversity of cultures and life experiences strengthens our mission to provide evidence-based health care. It gives us a greater understanding and appreciation for each patient’s unique genetic makeup, behavior, experiences and beliefs.

The College of Medicine has worked to mitigate implicit bias in its admissions process and provides implicit bias training to College of Medicine and Ohio State Wexner Medical Center leadership, faculty and staff. Inclusive excellence in leadership is an integral part of the strategic plan. Through the leadership of Chair Sayoko Moroi MD, PhD we have expanded efforts to achieve our mission: Restore, Preserve, and Enhance Vision to Improve Lives for ALL.

Scholarship Opportunities

The Ohio State University College of Medicine also provides additional scholarship opportunities for underrepresented students. For more information, visit the Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Student Program at Ohio State.

College of Medicine Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Student Program

The Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Student Program at The Ohio State University College of Medicine presents an exciting opportunity to experience a one-month rotation at one of America's top academic medical centers. This career development program aims to increase the percentage of students from underrepresented groups who train in one of our exceptional residency programs. In addition to active participation on the clinical rotation, students will have scheduled meetings with the associate dean for diversity and inclusion to facilitate career development and mentoring. A $2,000 diversity scholarship will be offered – $1,000 prior to completion and $1,000 after completion of the rotation.

Underrepresented in Medicine Ophthalmology Visiting Student Scholarship

In addition, for those who do not receive a scholarship through the Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Student Program at Ohio State, the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is offering an away rotation scholarship for underrepresented medical students for the upcoming academic year. The $2,000 scholarship will be used to help offset cost for travel, lodging and other student needs.

Students applying for one of the scholarships should be in their fourth year of medical school and interested in rotating at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. They should also have plans to apply for a residency position in Ophthalmology.

All interested applicants should apply prior to the first day of their away rotation, and early submission is encouraged. Please provide a letter of interest (one page in length), an updated CV and one letter of recommendation. All applications will be reviewed by Ohio State University College of Medicine faculty.

To submit your application or learn more information, contact Medical Student Coordinator Katie Woodrow at katie.woodrow@osumc.edu or Director of Medical Student Education, Michael Wells, MD, at michael.wells@osumc.edu.