Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Trainees (Residents and Fellows)


School of Medicine Multicultural Affairs

U.N.I.T.E.D.

Uniting Numerous medIcal Trainees for Equity and Diversity

Mission Statement

“We are a trainee advisory group that aims to foster and develop relationships across specialties, as well as advocate for diversity among all UMKC and CMH residency and fellowship programs. Through planning and hosting social events and educational workshops, we aim to bring people from all backgrounds together, to inspire collaboration and support the exchange of ideas on how to make UMKC a more diverse, welcoming, and inclusive workspace for all.”
Welcome to our New Members for our 2021-2022 Academic Year 
Register Here
(1-2 representative openings per program)

Leadership Team

Raquel McCommon, M.A.Ed.

UNITED Advisor and Creator

mccommonr@umkc.edu
Zuri Hudson, MD

CMH Pediatrics Resident
Shanice Robinson, MD

UMKC Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident
Johana Mejias-Beck, MD

UMKC Internal Medicine – Pediatrics Chief Resident
Sara Anderson, MD, MPH

UMKC Psychiatry  & Arts and Medicine Resident

Current 2021-2022 Membership

Rebecca Aguayo, MD

UMKC Family Medicine Resident
Hanae Benchbani, MD

UMKC Pathology Resident

 
Cornita Cannon, MD

UMKC Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident

 
Bianca Cherestal, MD

CMH Pediatric Cardiology Fellow
Ana Cortez, MD

CMH Pediatric Nephrology Fellow

 
Jessica Darusz, MD

UMKC Neurology Resident

 
Allison Drummond, MD

UMKC Ophthalmology Resident
Marwa Elsayed, MD

UMKC Internal Medicine Resident
Hannah Ho, MD

CMH Pediatrics Resident

 
Hiba Ibad, MD

UMKC Orthopedic Surgery Resident

 
Phil Jurasinski, DO, MPH, MSN

UMKC Internal Medicine – Pediatrics Resident

 
Andrew Lupo, MD

CMH Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology

 
Clinton Nelson, MD

UMKC Emergency Medicine Resident

 
Rachel Oldfather, MD

UMKC Internal Medicine – Pediatrics Resident

 
Sindhuja Palle, MD

UMKC Internal Medicine Resident

 
Anik Patel, MD

CMH Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow

 
Sha’Ray Shaw, MD

UMKC Neurology Resident

 
Mollie Walton, MD

CMH Pediatric Cardiology Fellow

 
Xiaofeng (Jasmine) Yan, MD, PhD

UMKC Psychiatry Resident

 
“Being a part of UNITED has shown me that UMKC really values diversity and through the support of its administration, we can make a sustainable change to our program. This has been very gratifying.”
“The UNITED community has given me a sense of pride, a family within residency outside of my program; it has given me courage, a voice and refuge to speak my mind and share ideas and advocate!”

Uniting Numerous medIcal Trainees for Equity and Diversity (UNITED) is a residency and fellowship advisory group founded in 2019 from the spirit and need of residents and fellows across the Hospital Hill campus who recognized the need for creating safe spaces to develop community and build relationships among under-represented in medicine (UIM) physicians.  UIM physicians are not limited to racial and ethnic identities, but also include those identifying as LGBTQIA+, numerous religious faiths and beliefs, diverse geographical locations, and varying ability levels.

The goal is to develop and foster relationships across medical specialties while advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion among residency and fellowship programs. Through social events and educational workshops, we aim to bring together people from different backgrounds to inspire collaboration and support the exchange of ideas on how to make our graduate medical education programs more diverse, welcoming, and inclusive workspaces for all.  Training programs affiliated with UMKC School of Medicine are different, but all strive to create a learning environment that prepares physicians to care for a global community of patients.

“This [UNITED] provides a way to connect with our colleagues that are simply across the street.”

UNITED provides a platform bringing residents and fellows together in the exchange of ideas to diversify their respective training program.  UNITED gives trainees a safe space outside of clinical responsibilities to harness their passion for advocacy, community engagement, and providing excellent medical care to patients while serving as ambassadors of their respective UMKC School of Medicine training program.  Group members strive to improve the health of patients and Greater Kansas City communities through education about health care disparities and social determinants of health while increasing awareness about diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“It [UNITED] has made me feel less alone, knowing that there are other people who are committed to this and understand the challenges that come with being a minority trainee.”