Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) statistics speak volumes within the UCLA Department of Medicine (DoM): 42% of the faculty and a striking 76% of the staff are women. These numbers are not just figures; they represent a tangible reflection of the invaluable contributions women make in our institution and beyond. In the grand tapestry of human history, women have stood as unsung heroes, catalysts of change, and beacons of progress. Whether on the battlefields of social justice or in the classrooms where glass ceilings are shattered, women have wielded their unwavering resolve and courage to shape the world. As we commemorate Women's History Month, let us not only honor the achievements of those who paved the way but also renew our commitment to the ongoing pursuit of equality and justice. Together, let us weave a future where every woman's narrative is heard, every woman's effort is esteemed, and every woman's potential is fully realized.

March is recognized as National Women’s History Month, with International Women’s Day  occurring every March 8th. This year, we draw inspiration from the National Women’s History Alliance which dedicated 2024 to, "Women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion." This theme lies at the core of our values and mission at the UCLA DoM Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Our department is fortunate to have so many women who are dedicated to promoting EDI within their professional capacities. The following women were nominated by their peers for their exceptional leadership, innovation, advancement of EDI, and overall positive contribution to the UCLA DoM.

Dr. Mopelola Adeyemo, who identifies as an African American woman, was born to two immigrant parents who came to the U.S. to pursue higher education and provide their children with greater opportunities. Upon completing her Internal Medicine training, she then pursued a clinical fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, followed by another fellowship in Clinical Nutrition. Despite her education taking her across the country, she always planned to return to Southern California to serve her community. Following her training, she joined the UCLA Division of Clinical Nutrition, focusing her career on researching and clinically managing obesity and related cardiometabolic disorders, particularly within racial and ethnic minorities.

Dr. Alejandra Casillas, who was born and raised in a working-class Mexican community in Los Angeles, is the eldest of four siblings. As the first in her family to pursue higher education, she deeply admires her parents' sacrifices to ensure their children received an education. After completing her undergraduate studies and medical school at Harvard on the East Coast, she returned to California for residency at UCSF. She then pursued her Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Fellowship at UCLA, the medical center where she was born, before conducting immigrant health research in Europe, based in Geneva, Switzerland. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, she witnessed firsthand the disparities in healthcare access within her community, fueling her passion for medicine and motivating her to address these inequalities.

Dr. Evelyn Curls was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended Harvard-Westlake - a private school in North Hollywood. Despite the financial hurdles posed by the school’s tuition, a generous act from one of her father's clients made her attendance possible. This foundational experience in education propelled her to pursue a degree in Biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California (USC). Following her undergraduate studies, she pursued her medical education and residency at UCLA, where she later stayed on to join the faculty. Dr. Curls worked as a full-time clinician for her first 5 years then transitioned into sharing her time between patient care and administration, culminating in her current position as Vice Chair of Ambulatory Medicine and Clinical Chief of UCLA GIM/HSR. 

Dr. Katie Hu was born in Shanghai, China. She was the daughter of two engineers who both immigrated to the United States to pursue higher education in pursuit of a better life. Growing up, Dr. Hu and her family moved every 2-3 years as her father’s career quickly took off. She learned at a young age how to adapt to change, to make friends quickly, and build a community wherever she went. When Dr. Hu was 8 years old, her little brother Alan was born, and her grandparents also moved in to help with childcare. One day, Dr. Hu’s grandmother commented that even as a baby, Alan was clearly smarter than Dr. Hu, because he was a boy. This pushed Dr. Hu on a path to prove otherwise.

 

Sylvia Lambrechts, a Los Angeles native, was born to South American parents who immigrated to the U.S. in pursuit of their American dream. Raised with a strong emphasis on education, Sylvia and her sister both attended USC for their undergraduate degrees before pursuing master's degrees in the health field. Growing up in a bilingual household proved advantageous both professionally and personally, especially when exploring the world.

 

Dr. Janet Pregler grew up as the daughter of an ophthalmologist and registered nurse in Topeka, Kansas. She observed how optometrists from various parts of the state referred challenging cases and surgeries to her parents’ practice. She witnessed firsthand their dedication to accommodating every patient, including those who lacked the means to find lodging in Topeka, often allowing them to stay overnight in their office. Holidays were particularly special, as their home would be filled with homemade gifts from grateful patients.

Dr. Lisa J. Skinner’s parents grew up in a rural Ozark Mountain community of about 600 people. Medical care was paid in cash or livestock and was often provided in the home by neighbors. When she and her brother were born, her mother, who was an uninsured teenager at the time, recalls paying out of pocket, cutting the hospitalization short to save money that they didn’t have. She left the Ozarks when she was young but spent summers back on the farm, seeing people she loved suffer from ailments and injuries that were often ignored and untreated. She wishes that she could say that witnessing these disparities inspired her to be a doctor. In truth, the idea of becoming a physician was so implausible to her that she didn’t consider medical school until a college mentor suggested it might be an option for her.

Dr. Stephanie Smooke Praw grew up in Los Angeles and the UCLA Department of Medicine has been her work home for more than 20 years. She describes her commitment to education and service to the community as the highest priorities in her family. "My sister and I were encouraged to challenge ourselves and to be intellectually curious. I was heavily influenced by my maternal grandmother who gave up her dream of going to college to earn money to help pay her brother’s college and architecture graduate school tuition. When I started medical school, she proudly bought me my first stethoscope. Using it was a constant reminder not to forsake any opportunity and to be grateful for the people, especially the women, who came before me and supported me. I am constantly reminded that is a privilege to have an education and to practice medicine."

 

Dr. Karol Watson was drawn to medicine by the health inequities she witnessed in her own family, which persist in her daily clinical work. As a leading cardiologist and Professor at UCLA DGSOM, Director of the UCLA Women’s Cardiovascular Health Center, Director of the UCLA-Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Health Program, Co-Director of the UCLA Program in Preventive Cardiology, Director of the UCLA Fellowship Program in Cardiovascular Diseases, and principal investigator for several large National Institutes of Health research studies, she directs numerous programs tackling health disparities, particularly in women's cardiovascular health.

Approximately 83% of the Divisional Managers (MSOs) and 75% of the Administrative Directors in the UCLA Department of Medicine are women. We are grateful for all the efforts - both recognized and unrecognized, by the women of the UCLA DoM that positively impact the UCLA community daily. We look forward to continuing the staff feature section in upcoming newsletters.

The DoM-EDI office is interested in hearing from YOU! If you have suggestions, requests, or ideas for activities, or want to get involved with EDI activities within your division, please let us know here.

At the beginning of the month, the Women in Medicine Committee launched a new Women in Medicine Channel on DoM TV. Link to channel here. The first video introduces the faculty who provided interviews to spark discussion during the ongoing Women in Medicine Networking Group’s Monthly Learn & Learn Series. On March 11, the Lunch & Learn series held its first meeting 30 faculty members joined us for a discussion on “How to deal with feeling overwhelmed.” The short video that was screened during the Lunch & Learn is now available on the DoM TV Women in Medicine Channel. Our next meeting will be on April 8 from 12P-1P where we will be talking about Parenting vs Career, can you have it all? RSVP here! Please see a preview of upcoming topics below.

 

 

February 1, 2024 – The Science of Diversity in Clinical Trials
Led by Keith Norris, MD, PhD

January 11, 2024 – On Equity Story Slam
Led by Michael Ayoub, MD, Marcella Calfon Press, MD, PhD, Amy L. Cummings, MD, PhD, Adrian Mayo, MD, Evan M. Shannon, MD, MPH, Soma Wali, MD, FACP, Sun M. Yoo, MD, MPH

November 2, 2023 – Creating Pathways and Policies for Indigenous Data Sovereignty in Genetic Research

Led by Nanibaa' Garrison, PhD

 

September 28, 2023 - Medical Implications of Particles in the Air

Led by Jesus A, Araujo, MD, PhD, MSC

DoM First Gen

We are looking to build a community among faculty in the DoM who identify as First-Generation College Graduates (First-Gen, first generation in family to go to college). This initiative is an extension of the work that is already happening at UCLA and DGSOM First Gen.

We have many ideas on how to empower DoM First-Gen, and that includes visibility and building our First-Gen Faculty community here in the department. To that end, we are building a list of all DoM faculty who identify as First-Gen. If you do self-identify as First-Gen, please fill out this quick survey.

Last October, DoM First-Gen hosted its first reception to build community among college graduates. We had a great turnout and plan to host more in the future! We hope you will join us to connect and empower the DoM First Gen Community.

We would also love your ideas for future First Gen support in DoM!  If you have any questions, please feel free to email acasillas@mednet.ucla.edu.

See: Challenges Facing First-Generation College Graduates in Medical School: A Qualitative Analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Dec 1;6(12):e2347528. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.47528. 
Challenges Facing First-Generation College Graduates in Medical School: A Qualitative Analysis | Medical Education | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network

EDI Spotlights

Let us feature you or someone you know on our social media accounts! We're highlighting DoM members who are addressing health disparities and working towards health equity. Send your submissions to domedi@mednet.ucla.edu!

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DoM-EDI Publications & Reports

Achieving equity in Residency and Fellowship Application with a Partial Blindfold: A Call for Measuring the Distance Traveled. Vijayan T, Graber CJ, Harris CE, Kozman D. ACP Journals. 2023

Asian Americans and Racial Justice in Medicine. Ko M, Ngo V, Zhang A, Mabeza R, Hahn M. New England Journal of Medicine. 2024

Diversifying the Medical Pathway in a Post–Affirmative Action World. JAMA. Essien UR, Agbafe V, Norris KC. Published online September 18, 2023. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.17089

Editorial: Social determinants of kidney health: a global perspective. Front Nephrol. Garcia-Garcia G, Norris KC, Sahay M, Ulasi II.2023 Aug 14;3:1260221. doi: 10.3389/fneph.2023.1260221. PMID: 37675345; PMCID: PMC10479554.

Racial and ethnic disparities in telehealth use before and after California's stay-at-home order .Bustamante AV, Martínez LE, Jalal S, Benitez Santos N, Félix Beltrán L, Rich J, Anaya YB Front Public Health. 2023 Aug 22;11:1222203. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1222203. PMID: 37674681; PMCID: PMC10477577.

Advances in the adaptation and implementation of evidence-based interventions for historically marginalized groups. Lau AS, Huey SJ Jr, Baumann AA. Behav Res Ther. 2023 Sep;168:104377. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104377. Epub 2023 Jul 21. PMID: 37531808.'

Community-based organization perspectives on participating in state-wide community canvassing program aimed to reduce COVID-19 vaccine disparities in California. Mansfield LN, Carson SL, Sunku N, Troutt A, Jackson S, Santillan D, Vassar SD, Slaughter D, Kim G, Norris KC, Brown AF. BMC Public Health. 2023 Jul 14;23(1):1356. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16210-9. PMID: 37452299; PMCID: PMC10349443.

Promoting Racial/Ethnic Identity in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Treatments. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Bath EPJ, Meza JI.2023 Aug;62(8):847-849. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.04.008. Epub 2023 Apr 17. PMID: 37075890.

Challenges Facing First-Generation College Graduates in Medical School: A Qualitative Analysis. Havemann C, Mason HRC, Russell RG, Casillas A, Nguyen M, Boatright D, Webber A, Parilla JA, Gallegos A, Wyatt TR.. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Dec 1;6(12):e2347528. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.47528

Eliminating Health Disparities in Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Failure, and Dyslipidemia: A Path Toward Achieving Pharmacoequity. Amin K, Bethel G, Jackson LR 2nd, Essien UR, Sloan CE. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2023 Dec 18. doi: 10.1007/s11883-023-01180-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38108997.

Racial inequity in low value care. Moriates C, Essien UR. BMJ. 2023 Oct 25;383:2293. doi: 10.1136/bmj.p2293.

Advancing equity research in the quality of and access to health care in a post-affirmative action era. Ong MK, Norris KC.  2023 Dec;58 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):281-283. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14249. PMID: 38015864; PMCID: PMC10684033.

Mental Health and Gender Affirmation of Black and Latine Transgender/Nonbinary Youth Compared to White Peers Prior to Hormone Initiation. Vance SR Jr, Chen D, Garofalo R, Glidden DV, Ehrensaft D, Hidalgo M, Tishelman A, Rosenthal SM, Chan YM, Olson-Kennedy J, Sevelius J. J Adolesc Health. 2023 Nov;73(5):880-886. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.06.022. Epub 2023 Aug 23. PMID: 37610390; PMCID: PMC10723039.

Investigating the relationship between participation in the building infrastructure leading to diversity (BUILD) initiative and intent to pursue a science career: A cross-sectional analysis. Ramos HV, Cobian KP, Srinivasan J, Christie CA, Crespi CM, Seeman T. Eval Program Plann. 2024 Feb;102:102380. doi: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2023.102380. Epub 2023 Oct 12. PMID: 37866132.

We would love to share updates from all divisions in the UCLA DoM. Please connect with us to feature your news and highlights in the next edition of our quarterly newsletter.

Email us at DoMEDI@mednet.ucla.edu and we will be in touch!