A Diversity and Inclusivity Q&A
Karen Bonuck, Ph.D.Without an understanding of racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, linguistic, and dis/ability diversity, we will fail to adequately meet our mission.
The education, research, and clinical missions of Einstein focus on improving human health. Without an understanding of racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, linguistic and dis/ability diversity, we will fail to adequately meet our mission.
I have been in the Einstein orbit for more than 20 years and during that time have seen more emphasis on promoting diversity in the student body, faculty appointments and administrative positions. But there is still more work to do. I have participated in trainings on implicit bias by Dr. Cristina Gonzalez. I also participated in national mentorship training, which addressed diversity in the mentorship process.
One of the goals of our new UCEDD plan is to promote disability as a diversity variable. We are pleased that the Einstein team working on diversity has included disability in its mission statement. I would like to see the group further its efforts in this area by actively recruiting qualified students with a range of disabilities and providing them with the supports that they need. Likewise, I would like to see the faculty better represented by qualified scholars and clinicians living with disabilities.
Karen Bonuck, Ph.D.
karen.bonuck@einsteinmed.org
Professor of Family and Social Medicine
Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health
Professor of Pediatrics
Co-Director, University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)
Rose F. Kennedy Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center
Albert Einstein College of Medicine