Statement
Diversity is a core value for the GW Department of Dermatology, and our mission is to recruit and train physicians representative of the patient population we serve, and the broader communities for whom our trainees will provide care. To that end, we purposefully seek out residents, staff, faculty, and student rotators that represent a broad mix of different backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. With Dr. Pooja Sodha serving as the Director, we are committed to creating a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, ability and disability, or citizenship. Furthermore, as part of this mission we are committed to addressing and rectifying disparities in medicine, including those that exist in the field of Dermatology, through a series of initiatives detailed below:
- The Diversity and Inclusion Office Funded Visiting Clerkship for underrepresented minority (URM) applicants
- The GW Dermatology Racial Equality Curriculum (Pilot Program)
- Development/Creation of the Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Color Atlas
- Participation in GW Diversity Network and Anti-Racism Coalition
- Student National Medical Association, Latino Medical Student Association, and the Tour for Diversity 4th year Mock Interview program
- A lecture at each of the monthly DC Dermatology Resident Consortium (DRC) events is dedicated to diversity and inclusion, addressing disparities, implicit bias, and/or anti-racism.
Research Corner
- Assessing a Paradigm Shift: Perceptions of the USMLE Step 1 Scoring Change to Pass/Fail
- Disparities in the Utilization of Dermatologists for Primary Cicatricial Alopecias
Making a Mark
- Seeing the Spectrum: Recognizing Lichen Planus in Various Skin Types
- Dermatologists are uniquely suited to help sexual-, gender-minority patients
- Dermatology Atlas Will Profile Disease in All Skin Types
- The Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Atlas
- Diversification of Dermatology Workforce Takes Shape
- https://wtop.com/health-
fitness/2024/07/gwu-joins- national-efforts-to-boost- diversity-among- dermatologists/ - https://medicalxpress.com/
news/2023-09-patients-doctors- medicine-diversify- affirmative.html - https://www.dermatologytimes.
com/view/addressing- disparities-in-atopic- dermatitis-through- teledermatology - https://smhs.gwu.edu/news/
philanthropic-sponsorship- expands-gws-free- multidisciplinary- teledermatology-program
To participate in an educational series on diversity and inclusion, please visit the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences Anti-Racism Coalition (ARC) website. For more general information, please visit the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences Office of Diversity and Inclusion Website.