Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee

The mission of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee at the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research is to work to advance health equity through program-wide efforts to remove obstacles impacting healthcare, clinical research, and an inclusive healthcare workforce. We aim to achieve this by examining internal policies, building a diverse and inclusive workforce and workforce environment, providing resources for health equity research, and increasing community participation and communication. Within this scope, the Irving Institute has the potential to significantly impact and improve the health of our community at large.   

What Does Health Equity Mean?

A comparison of the difference between equality and equity

Credit: Interaction Institute for Social Change    Artist: Angus Maguire

“Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible... For the purposes of measurement, health equity means reducing and ultimately eliminating disparities in health and its determinants that adversely affect excluded or marginalized groups.” [1]

Health equity research examines the multifaceted nature of systemic inequities that impact and prevent access to adequate care, with the intention to discover ways to circumvent structural barriers and ultimately eradicate them. Within the Irving Institute, the Health Equity Research working group strives to: 

  1. Support investigators and diverse interdisciplinary teams by providing the appropriate tools and resources to conduct research that disrupts biases  
  2. Promote and cultivate a research infrastructure that addresses issues around structural inequities and barriers - leading to overall equitable research processes  
  3. Facilitate equity in the processes and outcomes of research by engaging the community around research content, participation, and communication strategies  

 

Members:

Aris Floratos, PhD
Chunhua Weng PhD
Delfy Velazquez
Harley Lynch
Hanisha Udhani
Harold Pincus, MD
Helena Rincon, MA
Henry N. Ginsberg, MD
Jhoan Dutton
Kayla Zalcgendler, MSPH
Mary Purcell, BA
Michelle McClave, MS
Muredach Reilly, MBBCh, MSCE
Noelia Jimenez
Olajide Williams, MD
Rafael Lantigua, MD
Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, PhD
Shing Lee, PhD
Zainab Abedin, MPH

[1] Braveman, Paula. (2017, June 22). A New Definition Of Health Equity To Guide Future Efforts And Measure Progress. ​https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20170622.060710/full/ ​