Diversity Highlights
April Diversity Highlights
Events
1. 9th Annual Faculty Women of Color in the Academy National Conference April 9
2. #VTUnfinished Conversation on April 5 at 11:30 a.m. President Sands will be joined by Menah Pratt-Clarke, vice president for Strategic Affairs and Diversity, Guru Ghosh, vice president for Outreach and International Affairs, Jessica Nguyen, president of the Asian American Student Union, Silas Cassinelli, assistant professor in the Department of English, and Nina Ha, director of the Asian Cultural Engagement Center. The event will be livestreamed on this page and on the InclusiveVT YouTube channel.
Training Opportunity
Stanford’s Teaching LGBTQ+ Health course: a faculty development course for health professions educators.
This curriculum is designed for faculty members and health professions educators at Stanford Medicine and beyond. The course goals are to improve your knowledge, teaching skills, and attitudes pertaining to the provision of health care to LGBTQ+ patients. View the course trailer.
#StopAAPIHate
As educators, it is our responsibility to resist false narratives that fuel xenophobic crimes and to decolonize thinking that props up model minority and orientalist stereotypes. As educators, it is our responsibility--collectively and individually--to reflect, read, learn, and act toward justice, and to understand the intersections of identities that shape our lived experiences.
Learn more about the #StopAAPIHate initiative.
March is Women's History Month
In honor of Women's History Month, we are highlighting the documentary PICTURE A SCIENTIST.
PICTURE A SCIENTIST is a documentary film chronicling the groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women scientists. A biologist, a chemist and a geologist lead viewers on a journey deep into their own experiences in the sciences, overcoming brutal harassment, institutional discrimination, and years of subtle slights to revolutionize the culture of science. From cramped laboratories to spectacular field sites, we also encounter scientific luminaries who provide new perspectives on how to make science itself more diverse, equitable, and open to all.
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Events hosted by Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in honor of black history month include
- February 4: #VTCUnfinished: Black Maternal Health
- February 15: FBRI Virtual Seminar: Forward - Why We Cannot Not Go Back to Where We Were
- February 23-25: Black Men in White Coats - documentary and discussion
Progress Notes | February 2021
Diversity and Inclusion
- The next #VTCUnfinished event will be held virtually on Thursday, February 4 from 6 to 7 p.m. Titled “Black Maternal Health,” this session seeks to provide space to discuss how implicit racial and gender biases can change health care outcomes, what disparities currently exist, and how to begin dismantling health injustice. By disseminating best practices to address critical issues in Black maternal health from different sectors including research, care, policy, and culture; we can frame health equity and reproductive justice for Black Women.
The event is hosted by the VTC Chapter of the Student National Medical Association, the VTC Refugee in Medicine Association, the VTC Group on Women in Medicine and Science, and the VTC Obstetrics & Gynecology Interest Group. Registration required. - Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine has obtained a number of licenses for interested parties to view the documentary Black Men in White Coats on their own devices from February 23 - 25. It will also be shown in the Auditorium (M203) on February 25 at 3 p.m. A discussion will follow both live and on Zoom. Registration for online or in-person participation is required.
Progress Notes | January 2021
Diversity and Inclusion
- Registration is open for Virginia Tech’s Advancing Diversity Virtual Gathering on Jan. 12, 2021.
- Online diversity pathways and inclusive pedagogy spring courses.
There are new courses on the TLOS professional development network for diversity and inclusion. In addition, new SafeZone courses are available for the spring. - The Breakthrough Inclusive Action Tool Kit is available for anyone ready to become an agent of change in the academy! Although it is written for students and faculty in STEM fields, the content is adaptable to any academic unit. This excellent resource was produced in collaboration with Science Friday and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Tangled Bank Studios.
Progress Notes | December 2020
Diversity and Inclusion
- Registration is open for Virginia Tech’s Advancing Diversity Virtual Gathering on January 12, 2021.
- Do you have aging relatives? Will they need your support to age well?
Our recent Lunch and Learn focused on relevant information about what caring for an aging relative entails and why you and your loved ones should prepare. This session was full of great information and resources.
Progress Notes | November 2020
Diversity and Inclusion
Last month’s Lunch and Learn featured a discussion about inclusive language and terminology and was led by Charlotte Baker with the Department of Population Health Sciences at Virginia Tech. The graphic from her presentation is an excellent visual of the difference between the terms “equality” and “equity.”
Progress Notes | October 2020
Diversity and Inclusion
October is LGBTQ+ History Month, an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. LGBTQ+ History Month provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. Click here for Virginia Tech’s calendar of events to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month.
September is Women in Medicine Month
To celebrate Women in Medicine Month, the AAMC’s Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) will release a communication each week in September featuring spotlights, articles, journals and leadership lessons from women in physician, scientist, educator, and leadership roles. I hope we each will use this opportunity to reflect on the important contributions made by the women highlighted in the AAMC spotlight, and by the many outstanding women in medicine in our VTC community!
Week One: Women as Medical Educators
Week Two: Women as Biomedical Scientists
Week Three: Women as Physicians
Helen Carvalho highlighted as
IAMSE September Featured Member
Our association is a robust and diverse set of educators, researchers, medical professionals, volunteers and academics that come from all walks of life and from around the globe. Each month we choose a member to highlight their academic and professional career, and see how they are making the best of their membership in IAMSE. This month’s Featured Member is IAMSE member Helena Carvalho, PhD.
Helena Carvalho, PhD
Associate Professor
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
How long have you been a member of IAMSE?
Since 2010, when I started working at VTCSOM and shifted my focus to medical education.
Looking at your time with the Association, what have you most enjoyed doing? What are you looking forward to?
Since I became a member, I have been attending and presenting education research at IAMSE annually, but when I was part of the planning committee for the IAMSE 2018 and 2019, I learned some of the work that happens in the background. I really enjoyed being a part of the planning committee team. Since then I have continued to be more involved with the Association including attending IAMSE café, webinars and other online sessions.
I am always looking forward to the annual meetings where many interesting people share their expertise. Several times I felt ‘illuminated’ after the main talks at IAMSE. The speakers are well informed and really interested in education. Also, I appreciate the opportunity to present at focus sessions, posters and to be able to network with other educators that share the same passion for education.
What interesting things are you working on outside the Association right now?
I am really interested in innovative teaching methodologies. Since I reinvented myself changing from basic science research to full-time educator, I've wanted to make a difference in the students’ learning experience. For a decade I have been developing alternative and effective teaching strategies on my teaching using dramatizations and manipulatives. Some of the successes and challenges for these innovative teaching methods have been published and more are on the way for submission. At the last IAMSE meeting in Roanoke, I presented one of my favorite original teaching strategies during which participants in the Focus Session acted out roles in a Dramatization of the Cardiac Cycle. It was fun and really well received. Another line of research I am interested in is the correlation of what faculty think about teaching and how it reflects on how they teach and the teaching methodologies they use. The manuscript is going to be submitted to Medical Science Educator.
What positive changes have you implemented in your classes post-COVID?
Teaching via Zoom has proved to be a surprisingly interesting and rewarding experience. Originally I was completely against teaching online, but the sudden change from in-person to virtual was not a problem at all. I was going to facilitate PBL when the coronavirus outbreak was still mostly in Asia, and I saw that it was spreading and potentially coming to the US. It worried me as I was about to be in a small room with 7 students for 10 hours a week. The pandemic was announced on a Thursday and the following Monday we started PBL via zoom. I was happily surprised at how well it worked. I missed meeting the students in person but we still connected well and the quality of their education was maintained. Another great experience was teaching in the Ph.D. program using Zoom break-out rooms. It is good to see everybody’s faces and stimulate their participation in the session. In summary, I feel very lucky to be teaching in a school that gives such great technical support and to have so many really engaged students.
Anything else that you would like to add?
I am involved in a project in Brazil, my home country, with COVID-19 where we are working on a platform called “Ciente” (“Aware” in English) that centralizes personal health data and adaptations to be used in the pandemic. I also volunteer in the community. I teach Physiology to middle and high school students and volunteer for the Medical Reserve Corps helping translate instructions into Portuguese and Spanish to individuals at testing sites. Finally, another very interesting and important way I use my time is being part of a VTCSOM Task Force to deal with inequality and racial disparity. It is a great opportunity for me to make a meaningful contribution.
It is very stimulating to receive this recognition from IAMSE. It shows me that the work I love is valued by this society as it has been by other societies such as the American Physiological Society that prompted a visit to Senator Mark Warner’s office due to a teaching award I received.
Progress Notes | September 2020
Diversity and Inclusion
- Virginia Tech Police Chief Mac Babb will be among the panelists in a webinar on the intersection of racism, justice, and community resilience.
Wednesday, September 9 3:30-5 p.m. - Applications are being accepted for Accessibility Certification Grants, which go to selected candidates throughout the university to become certified accessibility professionals. According to Vianne Greek, web designer, who recently completed this certification, the Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) program “provides a great overview of how we can create a more accessible world.” Deadline to apply for these grants is Friday September 11.
- Take part in the Self-Guided Gainsboro History Tour 5K. Hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, this virtual 5K is part of the Welcoming Roanoke campaign for equality and inclusion. Kickoff is Monday, September 14.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health is hosting a virtual symposium to highlight state, tribal, territorial, and community-based efforts to address COVID-19 among racial and ethnic minority populations.
Thursday, September 17 noon to 6 p.m.
Progress Notes | August 2020
Diversity and Inclusion
- Karen Sanders, chief diversity officer, recently published this article for the Teaching Excellence Academy for Collaborative Healthcare (TEACH). It offers timely ideas on how to combat racism in the classroom along with a list of tools and resources on how to respond to individuals who advocate against messages of equity, civility and anti-racism, among others.
- Don't forget to register for Virginia Tech’s Office for Inclusion and Diversity's Annual Diversity Summit, Thursday, August 13, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. More information and registration.
Progress Notes | July 2020
Diversity and Inclusion
This article published by the AAMC provides some alarming facts and figures regarding morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in communities of color. The data underscore long-standing structural health disparities that are crucial to enlightening medical students.
June was LGBTQ Pride Month, and even though most events across the country were either cancelled or moved online due to COVID-19, the month was still recognized as a way to raise awareness about the current state of LGBTQ human rights and how organizations are working to protect and advocate for those rights. Learn more about LGBTQ+ Resource Center at Virginia Tech.
Progress Notes | June 2020
Diversity and Inclusion
Virginia Tech's Office for Diversity and Inclusion is offering three diversity education courses through the Professional Development Network. All courses are 100% online and self-paced.
- The Inclusive Workplace: a four module course that leads to the Inclusive Workplace Badge.
- Creating an Inclusive Climate: a four module course that leads to the Inclusive Climate Badge.
- The Inclusive Pedagogy: How Student Identities Matter: a ten module course that is a part of the Inclusive Teaching Pathway.