A faculty member who has devoted a large portion of his clinical career to serving low income adults living with or at risk of HIV and AIDs and a student organization reaching out to serve impoverished citizens, underprivileged children and those at risk for Hepatitis B have been selected as winners of this year’s Excellence in Diversity and Health Equity in Medicine awards from the School of Medicine’s Office of Diversity and Community Partnerships.
The awards recognize individuals and organizations for their demonstrated and sustained contribution to diversity, inclusion, cultural competency and health equity.
Jim Stanford, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine and Blue 5 Docent, is an infectious diseases expert who has served as research director for the Kansas City AIDS Research Consortium, provides care for HIV positive patients, and works with endocrinologists at Truman Medical Center to provide quality care in a culturally appropriate way for transgender patients.
Stanford’s clinical practice at TMC provides care for a growing number of patients who experience significant health disparities due to conditions that include mental illness, substance abuse, poverty and low health literacy.
The school’s Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association was selected as the student organization award recipient for its work with local Vietnamese, African American, India, Sri Lankan and Pakistani communities as well as the Kansas City African Chamber of Commerce that serves residents from 34 African nations.
With more than 150 student volunteers, including undergraduates to Year 6 medical students, the organization has fostered a successful, diverse environment of education and learning. Through their coordination and participation in events during the year such as free health fairs and the wordwide Hepatitis Awareness Month, students have provided health care services for the community while also gaining teaching and role modeling experiences.
This year’s awards will be presented in September during the annual faculty promotion and tenure recognition reception.
