Our residency program stands with both University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and University Health Truman Medical Center (UH TMC) in our commitment to supporting and expanding diversity, equity and inclusion within our community and our residency. UH TMC was named a 2020 Champion of Diversity by the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce.
To work towards that goal, our residency didactics include teaching on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Recent examples include lectures led by local university and hospital affiliate DEI leaders and case-based learning about bias and issues specifically affecting LGBTQ patients. We have implemented a scholarship program for underrepresented minority (URM) medical students that is currently available. Click here for more information.
At UMKC SOM, there is an active Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) led by Tyler K. Smith, MD, MPH. The UMKC SOM Office of DEI has instituted a regular newsletter highlighting important initiatives, providing faculty development, as well as resources for our learners. In June 2020, the Office of DEI began a series of student, trainee, faculty, and staff forums to facilitate dialogues necessary to support and promote a safe place for difficult discussions. The new Stay Woke Spotlight in the UMKC Office of DEI newsletter highlights students, residents, faculty, and staff that make an impact on diversity, equity, and inclusion at the UMKC School of Medicine (SOM). UMKC Faculty leadership hold regular town halls among students and faculty to address DEI issues.
We currently have an EM resident and faculty involved with the Housestaff Emerging Academy of Leaders (HEAL) for Underrepresented Groups through UT Southwestern. We also have a resident representative on the UMKC resident DEI advisory group UNITED. We also have a faculty member who currently serves as the supporting staff for the Latino Medical Student Association for UMKC.
UMKC EM welcomes LGBTQ students, residents, and faculty. We will continue to support our LGBTQ department members and will address bias and other issues faced by this patient population in our didactics. UH TMC has a multi-specialty LGBTQ clinic designed to meet the unique needs of this patient population and has been designated an LGBTQ healthcare equality leader by the national Healthcare Equality Index.
Our residency program and Department welcome all and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination against any member of our community on the basis of gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, age, religious beliefs, race/ethnicity, citizenship, relationship status, parental status, or disability. We are continuously working on reducing barriers for URM in medicine learners, creating a safe and supportive learning environment, and recruiting and keeping a diverse group of residents and faculty.
University Health Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Website
UMKC School of Medicine Diversity, Equity and Inclusion