Booth, Whitcomb recognized for Excellence in Enhancing Diversity and Inclusion
A team of faculty and staff members from the Penn State College of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine named Drs. Jennifer Booth and Tiffany Whitcomb in the Department of Comparative Medicine winners of the Excellence in Enhancing Diversity and Inclusion award.
The recognition, awarded every two months, highlights Penn State Health employees’ contribution to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in their work environments. Created through a Kienle Center for Humanistic Medicine’s “Ripple Effect” grant, the award highlights employee efforts to improve the experience of racially and ethnically diverse coworkers, patients, and learners.
Booth and Whitcomb led a two-day retreat for the Department of Comparative Medicine entitled “Laboratory Animal Medicine Training Program Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Curriculum Retreat and Mini Hack-a-Thon,” which included presentations from Department of Equity and Inclusion (DEI) leaders in veterinary and laboratory animal medicine, and led to DEI competencies which were incorporated into multiple courses. These included the incorporation of Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility in laboratory animal facility design, use of race as a proxy for genetics and the systemic lasting impact of eugenics. Their work was presented in posters, panel discussions and podium presentations at multiple national scholarly meetings during the past year.
Each awardee selects a “Hidden Hero” ― someone instrumental in their accomplishments. Booth’s Hidden Hero is Mandy Houser, administrative support coordinator in the Department of Comparative Medicine, whose creativity and behind-the-scenes service allowed many of the department’s diversity initiatives to flourish. Whitcomb’s Hidden Hero is Penn State Health Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Lynette Chappell-Williams. Chappell-Williams was described as a source of inspiration and support and a role model of resilience and determination. “She has taught me the importance of not letting fear of making mistakes get in the way of good work,” Whitcomb said.
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