~Welcoming the First Diversity Reps to the de Lange Diversity and Inclusion Fund~
The Radiology Department at UVA is committed to upholding and pursuing diversity and inclusion in all that we do. To that end, as part of our new Diversity and Inclusion initiative, we are excited to announce the appointment of our first three resident diversity representatives.
Getting to Know You
Read the bios and stories of what inspired each of these three leaders to apply to this program below:
Third Year Rep
Siobhan Alexander, MD
Dr. Siobhan Alexander received her undergraduate degree from The University of Florida and completed her medical school training at the University of Iowa. She then completed a transitional year internship at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI.
As the first African American female in the history of UVA’s radiology program, Dr. Alexander’s goal is to help make UVA a place that would attract more females, underrepresented minorities in medicine (URM), and LGBTQ physicians to choose UVA as their desired place for residency training. She is deeply invested in working with the medical school and undergraduate URM pre-medical students to develop mentorship opportunities and expose them to the incredible field of radiology earlier in their education. As a former medical student who participated in medical student groups geared toward those currently underrepresented in medicine, Dr. Alexander recognizes that having minority physician role models is extremely valuable in shaping one’s career, and she hopes to fulfill that role for others as a Diversity Representative.
Dr. Alexander is very grateful for Dr. de Lange’s generosity and awareness of the need for diversity within radiology to better serve our diverse patient population.
Second Year Rep
Mohammad Halaibeh, MD
Dr. Mohammad Halaibeh attended Stony Brook University as an undergraduate, received his medical degree from Marshall University, and completed his surgical internship at UVA.
Dr. Halaibeh has had a strong interest in promoting justice and equality since his childhood. He was born in Jordan and lived there until July of 2001 when his parents sent him to the United States to live with his uncle. Two months later, on September 11th, the World Trade Center was attacked, and everything changed. As if having to learn English and being in an entirely new country and foreign culture were not enough, Dr. Halaibeh became the target of many racist comments and even physical assaults. From that point onward, he deeply understood the importance of being part of a community that is supportive of all peoples. Since then, he has made a commitment to promote diversity and inclusion wherever he can.
Dr. Halaibeh’s goal in being a Diversity Representative is to be a voice for social justice. His desire is not only to be an example of inclusion generally, but to encourage underrepresented minorities to specifically consider a career in the field of Radiology. His belief is that the quality of health care, patient satisfaction, and the health care work environment improve with a diverse care team.
First Year Rep
Sukhdeep (Sukhi) Grewal, MD
Dr. Sukhdeep Grewal received her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. She earned her medical degree here at UVA School of Medicine and completed her internship in General Surgery at UVA as well.
Dr. Grewal chose to become a Diversity Representative with the goal of exposing more women and minorities to the field of Radiology. She hopes that this program will make UVA a place that would attract those who would otherwise not consider it a possibility. Through outreach and mentoring, she believes that the representatives’ efforts can change preconceived notions that hold people back from choosing a career in Radiology. She has tried to live her life with a uniquely defiant attitude toward culturally defined gender norms and believes this is the next step on that path.
She looks forward to the opportunity to be a more active participant within the realm of medicine as a Diversity Representative.
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