Neurology Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee

Every individual is deserving of expert and timely neurological care delivered equitably and respectfully, regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age and physical ability by caregivers who represent the diversity of the community.

To cultivate a culture of belonging that embraces the richness of our diverse community of patients and all team members. We strive to meet the needs of our community, with a specific focus on people who are marginalized and/or under represented in partnerships to promote brain health for all.

• Develop targeted recruitment strategies to attract a diverse pool of faculty, staff, and trainees.
• Offer regular DEI-focused training sessions on cultural competency, implicit bias, and inclusive practices for all staff and trainees.
• Incorporate DEI topics into the neurology curriculum and continuing medical education.
• Host grand rounds and seminars that address health disparities in neurology and related fields.
• Conduct community outreach programs to increase awareness and access to neurological care in underserved populations.
• Develop protocols to identify and address disparities in neurological treatment outcomes.
• Partner with local organizations to provide neurological services to marginalized communities

• Javier Provencio (Co-Chair)
• Sarah M. Jones (Co-Chair)
• Jose H. Posas, MD
• Alana Harrison, NP
• M. Agustina Rossetti, PhD
• Cesarina Thohan, MD

Past Chair: Amal Abu Libdeh, MBBS (Now at U. of Jordan)

We consider ourselves fortunate to be a part of a diverse and inclusive community here at the University of Virginia (UVA Division of DEI), as well as UVA Health (DEI UVE Health) and the UVA School of Medicine (DEI SOM). In addition, Charlottesville, Virginia (video: Life in Charlottesville) is an eclectic, multicultural community that has become a national example of strength, unity and justice in the face of adversity and intolerance towards our people. It is a place where we feel safe and are proud to call home.

Our DEI workgroup stated in 2015 with a focus on faculty & APP recruitment to help better care for our community. In 2017 our efforts widened to include improving access in our outpatient clinics as we have continued to work toward health equity for our patients. Through departmental meetings and our Grand Round lecture series, we have had success in promoting awareness about how our clinic population does not accurately reflect that breadth of diverse peoples within our community.

Departmental didactics include the annual Grand Rounds lecture series, with at least two presentations each year focused on health equity topics and/or highlighting scholarship of underrepresented UVA Neurology alumni. The recent UVA Neurology departmental CME conference, the 2024 Johns Wooten Neurology Symposium, was intended to address health inequities while simultaneously updating clinicians on advancements in the field of Neurology. The keynote speaker and the T. R. Johns Endowed Lecturer was Dr. Opeolu Adenoye from Washington University in St. Louis. He presented the topic of “Mitigating Inequality in Acute Stroke Treatment,” which has been a challenging problem affecting rural hospitals disproportionately. This inequity has been measured to be progressively worsening over the last several years, as measured by the American Heart Association and other accredited institutions, and many of us have observed its effects when we care for our patients.

Several faculty & APPs have demonstrated scholarly work in improving health equity in their area of expertise:

• Dr. M. Agustina Rossetti is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist who has established a Spanish speaking Neuropsychology clinic for persons with cognitive disorders, focused on access and cross-cultural support.
• NP Alana Harrison, Dr. Kristen Heinan, NP Tanya Prachar and Dr. Jose Posas continue to improve upon the care given to pediatric and adult athletes who have had signs and symptoms of concussions and traumatic brain injury. While any athlete or non-athlete may be affected, this condition disproportionately affects non-white athletes.
• Dr. Cesarina Thohan has started a multidisciplinary vascular neurology (stroke) clinic modeled after the clinic developed at the Cleveland Clinic by UVA neurology alumna Dr. Gwendolyn Lynch.

“As program directors, we highly value diversity in our trainees, colleagues, and mentors. Diversity brings varying perspectives and experiences which enhance patient care, the training experience, and the work environment.  We strive to create a safe space for people of all backgrounds to learn and grow together.” – W. Alex Dalrymple, MD & Kathryn Xixis, MD