September 21, 2018
Dear Einstein Community:
It is my privilege and pleasure to reaffirm the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan (D & I Plan) for Albert Einstein College of Medicine. This D & I Plan was first presented to the Einstein community earlier this year by our former dean, Dr. Allen Spiegel.
In the two months I’ve been at the College of Medicine, I have felt your warmth and compassion in welcoming me to the Montefiore Einstein family. It aptly reflects the values I recall from my time as a student at Einstein, where inclusion, caring, and congeniality were fostered.
During my recruitment process it was made clear that the new dean’s goals would include completing implementation of the D & I Plan. This is a goal that I am fully committed to achieving, and I was delighted to learn that a great deal of work is already underway, including a roadmap to guide our continued pursuit of academic, educational, clinical, and professional excellence.
The D & I Plan provides a comprehensive, multi-year action plan intended to position the College of Medicine to continue its leadership role in attracting the best talent by providing an environment where diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence are strategically positioned among our highest priorities. These values are critical to our mission and to our ability to remain competitive. More important, the environment we provide will allow us to educate and train the best doctors and researchers, whose contributions will help shape the future in their respective disciplines and fields of study.
My predecessor, Allen Spiegel, committed to creating the foundational elements of the D & I Plan. As the new dean, it is my aim to continue shaping and strengthening the plan, and to provide the necessary leadership support to implement its many positive objectives and ideals. Below, I share with you the next series of steps from the D & I Plan that I have authorized.
- Creation of Einstein Council for Diversity and Inclusion in Medicine
- Approval and adoption of “Guiding Principles for Faculty Searches” to support the work of search committees at Einstein. I am charging the Faculty Diversity Action Group to work with Executive Dean Ed Burns to assist in its implementation.
- Request that the Faculty Diversity Action Group develop formal proposals to support mentoring programs at Einstein, and advise on the development of a Diversity Scholars & Fellows Program to increase Einstein’s use of NIH diversity supplements.
- Beginning October 1, 2018, require cross-cultural and LGBTQ+ learning for all newly hired Einstein faculty and staff. Current members of our community will be asked to participate in this new learning during the coming year.
- Dean’s Office hosting of Einstein’s first leadership-level Diversity & Inclusion planning retreat on October 31, 2018.
- Authorizing the recruitment of a senior diversity and inclusion professional for appointment by next spring. This individual will possess the experience and credentials to qualify for faculty rank at Einstein and be a part of my leadership team.
- Support for development and approval of a budget to support Einstein’s D & I goals and programs.
- Reauthorizing the second, biannual diversity engagement (climate) survey, to be administered in January 2019.
I encourage you to review the D & I Plan and to participate in our ongoing efforts to improve Einstein. For additional information, please visit the Diversity@Einstein web page.
I look forward to working with each of you to strengthen Einstein’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Sincerely,
Gordon F. Tomaselli, M.D.
The Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer
Montefiore Medicine