The Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care recognizes the vital need for structured, systemic and institutional support of diversity and inclusion. We have therefore appointed Dr. Jennifer Lucero as our inaugural Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Lucero brings many years of experience to this effort, and has served for several years as the Department’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion. Since her appointment as Director, the Department has made positive strides towards a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, in the following areas:
- Oversight of our efforts to address broad and specific issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in faculty, staff and trainees
- Development of a departmental diversity strategic plan
- Identification of key committees that should have representation from women and those underrepresented in medicine, and serve as a resource to advise on diversity issues
- Identification and dissemination of an implementation strategy for diversity and inclusion “best practices” from the Office of Diversity and Outreach, SOM, and Medical center
- Working with internal and external groups that advance the cause of diversity and inclusion, through the membership on the Vice Chancellor’s Departmental Diversity Leaders’ Group, SOM-Differences Matter project, and GME-Diversity working group
- Development of a curriculum for diversity competencies for faculty, staff, and trainees, which comprise foundational knowledge, skill building, and application in core diversity concepts (including unconscious bias, microagressions, privilege and allyship)
For these reasons and many more, we are delighted to announce Dr. Lucero’s appointment as the Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion in the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care.