As a 27-year pediatric emergency physician who trained to assess the airway, breathing and circulation in severely ill or injured patients, George Floyd’s words “I can’t breathe” pierced my soul and sounded the alarm just like a call to respond to a code. That alarm said the time is now to act for meaningful changes for social justice.

The reality is that Floyd’s death is a symptom of a bigger problem of racism and injustice. Unfortunately, inequities do not spare medical practice. Health inequities span the spectrum of medical care, from managing pain to screening and treating cancer. Heath inequities have become even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities of color.

Reflecting on Floyd’s death and similar incidents preceding it, many people feel conflicting emotions of outrage, fear and sadness, along with hope that there will be an end to discrimination and hatred. In facing such challenges, the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville joins others UF colleges in expanding efforts to address racism and social injustice across the university. We want to be systematic in how we achieve positive, meaningful and sustainable changes to promote a culture of inclusive excellence.

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

In 2019, Leon L. Haley Jr., M.D., MHSA, dean of the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville, appointed me as the college’s first associate dean for inclusion and equity and Ann-Marie Knight as the first vice president for community engagement and chief diversity officer for UF Health Jacksonville. Additional groups on inclusion, diversity, equity and access — ideals collectively referred to as IDEA — were established on campus. These include the UF Health Science Center IDEA Advisory Council and the IDEA Champions Committee, which features representation from various departments that aim to carry out the enterprise’s IDEA strategic priorities.

These measures are essential to creating a climate that aligns with our mission to heal, to comfort, to educate and to discover through quality health care, medical education, innovation and research. The goal is to cultivate an environment and culture where everyone has a strong sense of belonging and can be successful. Our inclusion, diversity, equity and access efforts are also connected with other UF colleges and business units via the university’s campus diversity liaisons. They are led by Antonio Farias, who was named UF’s first chief diversity officer in 2018.

The following graphic explains our organization’s IDEA vision, mission and strategic priorities.

WOMEN IN MEDICINE AND SCIENCE

The UF Health Science Center IDEA Advisory Council has reviewed and approved a robust strategic plan to establish the Women in Medicine and Science, or WIMS, group. Its programs and events will strive to:

• Educate and prepare women for success in professional advancement, including promotion and tenure.
• Highlight internal/local, state and national speakers on topics important to women in medicine and science.
• Promote allyship of male leaders to support female faculty development and mentorship.
• Promote leadership skills and professional development among women.
• Provide forums for female faculty, resident and allied health care professionals to network, support common goals and address common concerns.
• Use feedback from participants to strengthen programs.

The formation of WIMS comes on the heels of UF Health Jacksonville announcing its participation in and unwavering support for TIME’S UP Healthcare, a national initiative dedicated to ensuring safe, fair and dignified work for women in the industry.