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Goals and Mission
The mission of the Caruso Department of Otolaryngology Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Committee is to acknowledge the history of racial and social injustice in medicine and the greater society, and to promote justice and diversity within our department and beyond.
Initiatives
These are some of the ongoing priorities and initiatives we have been working on:
- Education: Racism and inequality is a public health issue, and we cannot be good clinicians or health care professionals without integrating this knowledge into our practice.
a. Invited speakers for Department Ground Rounds
b. Integration of disparities and health equity in all didactics
c. Resident didactic lectures
d. Journal club on health disparities, social issues in medicine, etc.
e. DEI departmental newsletter - Research: An important part of understanding the problem we are combating, in terms of patient care, is understanding the health disparities and challenges within our own practice.
a. Health Disparity research projects
b. QI projects for the department workplace
c. QI projects for health care delivery as it relates to under-served or under-represented populations - Community Outreach/Engagement: USC/KSOM is an institutional leader in Los Angeles and California. We will strengthen existing relationships and establish new pipelines to promote health and uplift the local community.
a. Mentorship initiatives
b. Establish outreach scholarship fund for summer externships, recruiting visiting students, etc.
c. Community H&N screening programs - Representation/Recruitment: We have a role and responsibility as gatekeepers and leaders in our field to promote inclusion and representation within our field.
a. Review faculty/staff recruitment criteria and practices
b. Review faculty advancement practices
c. Progressive residency rank criteria to promote diversity and representation
d. Maintain mentorship and interest groups, for recruiting and retaining under-represented minorities from the community into our field