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Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Retreat

On June 3, 2022, the vice-chairs, associate chairs and directors of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for each of the departments in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine (SFESOM) had a full-day retreat, hosted by the Office of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OHEDI).

Attendees were greeted in the morning by Dr. Michael Good, SVP for Health Sciences, executive dean of the SFESOM and CEO of University of Utah Health, who gave inspiring words on where he saw the equity, diversity and inclusion work at the SFESOM going. His words were laudatory to the efforts of Dr. Paloma Cariello and her team at the SFESOM OHEDI. He was also impressed that there are so many groups working on the coordinated efforts of equity, diversity and inclusion at SFESOM.

Mary Ann Villarreal, vice president for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), and José E Rodríguez MD, AVP for University of Utah Health Equity Diversity and Inclusion were also present. This was the first time in the history of the School of Medicine that such a large group of equity, diversity and inclusion officers were assembled. The participants also got to meet in person for the first time since this group was formed, and they shared common barriers and strategies for success.

Attendees then went on to the important work of ensuring that the equity, diversity and inclusion work at SFESOM was aligned with the Health Sciences Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, as well as the overall University of Utah EDI Strategy. Assisted by consultants from RW Jones, Ashley Worthington, who helped the group develop guiding principles for revisions of department mission and vision statements and for the upcoming Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plans that each of the departments will be developing this year.