The Department of Psychiatry has recently formed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee comprised of faculty, trainees and staff with goals to enhance representation, promote community engagement, advocate for patients and provide mentoring opportunities for medical students.
The committee is further divided into four subcommittees (Recruitment and Retention, Community Engagement, Resident Education and Advocacy, Interaction with Medical Students), all working to create a welcoming culture that fosters greater understanding between different perspectives.
For Tamika Braveheart, research nurse and committee member, the formation of a DEI Committee is an ambitious, generational project, through which the department can bring a more open-minded approach to diagnosing and treating people with mental illness.
“Modern medicine is often very paternalistic, and prior generations were comfortable with that,” said Tamika, “but younger patients are a part of this new approach. It’s not just about race, sexuality and gender. They also want to participate more in their treatment, and find common ground based on other factors like culture.”
Braveheart, who worked previously in international development and has a background in grassroots advocacy, noted there are diverse ways in which people experience their mental health, and greater awareness of that diversity can reduce the stigma associated with psychiatric treatment. “We have to have a culture shift away from snap diagnoses based on cultural homogeneity,” adds Braveheart.
Committee Member Amir Jabr (PGY-2), who is originally from Damascus and has mentored students in programs at UNC and in the Middle East, sees the committee’s work in recruitment and retention as an opportunity to make a positive impact with the UVA medical community as well as the community at large.
“Our residents come from a variety of different backgrounds,” said Jabr, “and so we want all our incoming residents to feel welcome.”
Jabr feels that increased visibility is important to maximizing the committee’s impact, and so he works closely with leaders in the School of Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, to improve the student experience during recruitment.
Jabr is passionate about students fostering a connection and feeling integrated into the department’s inclusive culture, adding “I want to be the person that medical students and undergrads, other people who we are recruiting to feel like they have someone they can reach out to. I like to connect with students, to share ideas with them, allow them to have more opportunities they might not be aware of. A lot of times there are things we are doing that just get missed for lack of having good communication and connection with these students.”
Both Braveheart and Jabr see challenges to creating this more inclusive and welcoming culture. Jabr noted that various unconscious cultural biases create a challenge to establishing a greater level of care.
“Historically, the numbers show more African Americans get diagnosed with schizophrenia, on average, than people from other races. At UVA, we have taken the initiative to be as diverse and equal in our judgment as we can, while taking genetics as a potential player in some of these psychiatric diagnoses.”
Braveheart sees UVA’s own history of discrimination as a challenge when promoting community outreach.
“The work to be done is not going to happen in the clinic or the classroom,” Braveheart said, “It’s going to happen outside the campus.”
“We’re up against centuries of mistreatment of people of color by large institutions,” Braveheart explained, “and people don’t want to come to us because of the history. When the hospital was segregated, a black woman would have her babies delivered in the basement. And patients who are brought here know that history. We have to address this blind spot and recognize that this institution has caused harm in the past, and what that has to do with people who won’t respond to outreach. How do you do outreach and engage with communities when it requires so many to get outside their comfort zones? We have to be able to see this challenge.”
But for Braveheart, the committee’s work is as much about that process of rebuilding trust than it is about measurable outcomes.
“What if we do five community events and few, if any, show up? Do we stop doing those events? Trust isn’t built overnight. We should be measuring progress not in years but perhaps in cohorts.”
In establishing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee within UVA Psychiatry, we embark on a transformative journey toward fostering a culture of connection, understanding, and inclusivity. Through the dedication and collaborative efforts of our diverse members, we aspire to transcend traditional paradigms in mental health care, embracing a patient-centered approach that acknowledges and respects individual experiences, backgrounds, and identities. As we navigate the complexities of historical injustices and unconscious biases, we remain steadfast in our commitment to building bridges of trust and engagement within our community. Our vision extends beyond mere representation; it encompasses the cultivation of genuine relationships, the empowerment of marginalized voices, and the continuous pursuit of equity and justice. Together, we strive to not only heal wounds of the past but also to forge a future where every individual feels valued, heard, and supported on their journey to mental wellness.
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