Department of Medicine shares diversity news for February 2022
About the Department of Medicine Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council
The mission of the Department of Medicine’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council is to be a resource and advocate for all issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion within the Department of Medicine.
The council strives to foster an organizational change that creates, promotes and nurtures the value of a multicultural environment and varied perspective to serve Penn State Health’s missions.
It also strives to build collaborations and bridges with communities in the region as the Penn State Health family expands in central Pennsylvania.
As part of that mission, the council has created a monthly newsletter. This is the February 2022 edition.
Council’s Corner
Happy New Year! We would like to start the third edition of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Newsletter by noting that February is Black History Month, also known as African American History Month. Since 1976, this month has been designated as a time to remember and recognize the contributions and accomplishments of Black Americans. For a brief summary of why we celebrate Black History Month, click here. We also encourage you to learn more about the man behind the creation of this observance, Carter G. Woodson, here.
In this issue of our newsletter, we will highlight some cultural holidays and national observances that will take place over the next several months, including Holi and Passover. We will also explore the racist origins behind the terms “uppity” and “cakewalk,” and preview upcoming diversity events during February, March and April.
Additionally, we would like to provide an update on a project that we hope to debut in the next edition of our newsletter: the Microaggressions, Unconscious Bias and Upstander Education (MUBUE) pocket cards. We have been working extremely hard on the development of these pocket cards and we plan to have them ready for distribution very soon.
Thank you for your continued support of our mission, and we hope you enjoy our third issue.
Department of Medicine Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council members:
Ayesha Ahmad, MD; Glenn Buchberger, MD; Alia Chisty, MD, MS; Nasr Ghahramani, MD, MS; Stephen Henderson, MD (Council Chair); Fahad Khalid, MD; Karen Krok, MD; and Ify Ndukwu, MD, MBA
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Council Member Spotlight: Why did you decide to be part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council?
Dr. Alia Chisty
Dr. Alia Chisty: “It is my pleasure and honor to be a member of the Department of Medicine Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council! At the age of 8, I learned that my extended family thought that as a girl, I was less important than my boy cousins. After that experience, I vowed that my parents would never regret having two daughters as children. As a woman in medicine, I’ve been dismissed, described as ‘diminutive,’ and been told that I was overreaching by having the goal of becoming a Program Director. As a Program Director and spouse of an inspiring and talented URiM physician, I believe it is my privilege to advocate for and learn from students, trainees and other faculty to create a more equitable and inclusive environment. Together, we can create a future in academic medicine where people from all backgrounds can feel that their voices are welcome and celebrated. I’m thrilled to be part of group that promotes these values that are personally important to me.”
Ongoing Initiatives
We are eagerly wrapping up the final stage in the production of our Microaggressions, Unconscious Bias and Upstander Education (MUBUE) pocket cards! The goal is to mass-distribute these pocket cards across the department, including to our learners, so everyone can have them as a reference to utilize MUBUE training in real time in the workplace. We hope to debut the cards in our next Diversity Council newsletter!
As we shared in the first two issues of our newsletter, our Diversity Grand Rounds series began in September 2020 with a roundtable discussion celebrating Women in Medicine. Other presentations and panels focused on the experiences of Hispanics/Latinx in Medicine as well as medical conditions and health disparities in the Black community.
We are in the planning stages for our next Diversity Grand Rounds, which will take place on March 1, 2022. Stay tuned for more details in the weekly update emails sent by Dr. Thomas Ma, Department of Medicine Chair!
In the meantime, we encourage everyone to revisit our previous Diversity Grand Rounds recordings on Mediasite. Presentations available include:
- June 15, 2021: Medical Conditions and Health Disparities in the Black Community: Case Presentations and Discussion
- March 2, 2021: Black Physicians in Medicine and COVID-19 Health Disparities in the Black Community ― Changing the Narrative
- Nov. 24, 2020: Hispanics/Latinx in Medicine: Promoting Diversity in the Workplace and Health Challenges within the Hispanic/Latinx Community
- Sept. 1, 2020: Women in Medicine: Promoting Gender Diversity in the Workplace
Another recent DOM Grand Rounds was centered around diversity as well: The Division of Hospital Medicine sponsored Grand Rounds on June 22 featuring a presentation from Dr. Henry Ng with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, who discussed “COVID-19 and the LGBTQ+ Community: Promoting Health and Health Equity.” Click here to rewatch this session.
See previous Medicine Grand Rounds presentations on Mediasite
(Penn State Health ePass login required)
Stay tuned for details about upcoming health fairs and free community clinics!
Event of the Month
“Black Families and Mindfulness: Considering an Afrocentric Approach” Lecture hosted by Department of Humanities
12 to 1 p.m. February 3
Kesha Morant Williams, associate professor of Communication Arts and Sciences and Coordinator of the Bioethics and Medical Humanities Minor at Penn State Berks, will discuss culturally relevant mindfulness practices, with special attention to the success of mindfulness among African American women in family settings. She will conclude with recommendations for future research.
Cultural Corner: Recent Holidays, Observances and Celebrations
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements and accomplishments by African Americans throughout U.S. history. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month, but other countries around the world also mark one month a year as an opportunity to celebrate African American history.
Women’s History Month has been observed since 1987 to recognize all women for their valuable contributions to history and society. The annual celebration of this monthlong observance started with a weeklong commemoration organized by a school district in Sonoma, California, in 1978 and has now grown into an expanded event that lasts the entire month of March.
Click here to learn more about the origins of Women’s History Month.
Holi is a Hindu holiday that marks the beginning of spring after a long winter, symbolic of the triumph of good over evil, and it honors love, fertility and renewal. According to TIME magazine, “on the day of Holi, entire streets and towns turn red, green and yellow as people throw colored powder into the air and splash them on others. Each color carries a meaning. Red, for example, symbolizes love and fertility while green stands for new beginnings.” This practice has given Holi another name: the Festival of Colors.
Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer for Muslims, the followers of Islam. It is observed as the month when the prophet Muhammad received the initial revelations of the Quran, the holy book for Muslims. Fasting is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam, and each day during Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset.
Passover is a holiday celebrated by those in the Jewish faith that commemorates the Hebrews’ liberation from slavery in Egypt and the “passing over” of the forces of destruction, or the sparing of the firstborn of the Israelites, when the Lord “smote the land of Egypt” on the eve of the Exodus, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. During the weeklong observation of Passover, all leaven products are prohibited and only unleavened bread, or “matzo,” can be eaten. The matzo symbolizes both the Hebrews’ suffering while in bondage as well as the haste with which they left Egypt in the course of the Exodus.
Personal Reflection, Narratives, Short Stories and Poetry
This newsletter welcomes creative writing submissions from physicians, faculty, staff and students! Send ideas and completed works to Jessica Bogard at jbogard@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
Other Diversity Initiatives and Projects
Please note that Inclusion Week, which was originally scheduled for January 17-22, has been moved to June to coincide with Juneteenth and it will now take place from June 13-17. We look forward to a full schedule of events for this important learning opportunity – stay tuned for additional details!
The Department of Humanities and Harrell Health Sciences Library host monthly discussions via Zoom as part of the Connecting Through Literature Book Club. Upcoming titles and discussion dates are as follows:
- Feb. 9, 2022: Just Us: An American Conversation – Claudia Rankine
- March 9, 2022: The Woman Warrior – Maxine Hong Kingston
- April 13, 2022: Born a Crime – Trevor Noah
- May 11, 2022: The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories – Ken Liu
The discussions are typically from noon to 1 p.m.
For more details about the Connecting Through Literature Book Club, click here.
What we say can have a negative and harmful impact, even if we don’t intend to send the wrong message or don’t even realize that we’re speaking insensitively. In this section, we’ll highlight two words that should be avoided, if possible, due to troubling histories or origins.
Uppity
“Uppity” was used by White people in the Jim Crow era to describe Black people they believed weren’t showing them enough deference. PBS also noted in its “American Experience” series that many Black men and women were lynched by White mobs for seeming too “uppity.”
Cakewalk
These days, this term is used to describe an easy win or something that’s easily accomplished, but the term actually originated as a dance performed by enslaved Black people on plantations before the Civil War. According to CNN’s history of racist terms, enslaved Blacks intended this dance to be a mockery of the way White people danced, but plantation owners often interpreted their movements as unskillful attempts to be like them. Plantation owners began to hold contests in which enslaved people competed for a cake. The dance and the resulting idiom were popularized through minstrel shows.
We will highlight Department of Medicine-specific events in the future.
Inclusion Academy Events
The Inclusion Academy is an educational program organized by Penn State Health’s Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that focuses on providing cultural knowledge and an understanding with the goal of providing culturally responsive patient care to diverse and marginalized communities. The sessions are offered throughout the year and are separated into categories that benefit various audiences and are designed to foster cultural excellence in all facets of our organization.
“Providing Culturally Responsive Care” Webinars
Providing Culturally Responsive Care to Hispanic/Latinx Patients
12 to 1 p.m. February 10
Providing Culturally Responsive Care to Amish Patients
12 to 1 p.m. February 24
Providing Culturally Responsive Care to South Asian Patients
12 to 1 p.m. March 10
Providing Culturally Responsive Care to Asian American Patients
12 to 1 p.m. April 7
Providing Culturally Responsive Care to Military and Veteran Patients
12 to 1 p.m. April 21
Health Disparities Among African American Women During Childbearing Years
4 to 5 p.m. February 16
The Dimensions of Diversity Series addresses topics that are trending locally, nationally, and globally and that impact our patient population as well as our workforce and learners.
This webinar will address the long-standing health disparities African American women and their infants face, their impact on their well-being and family relationships, and will highlight the urgency and importance of addressing disparities in maternal and infant health more broadly.
This session will be held via Zoom. Webinar links will be provided upon registration.
Improving the Experiences for Patients with Disabilities
12 to 1 p.m. March 24
This webinar will provide participants with tools and resources to be able to provide culturally responsive health care to patients with disabilities and establish a caring and trusting patient-provider relationship.
Family Separation, Family Detention and Asylum
4 to 5 p.m. April 13
This webinar will focus on the impact family separation, detention and asylum have on children and their parents, the risks involved and the role immigrants play in the United States.
Additional diversity-related events and webinars
Global Diversity Awareness – Lunar New Year Festival (Year of the Tiger)
12 to 1:30 p.m. and 5 to 6:30 p.m. February 1
Join the Penn State Health Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in a celebration of the Lunar New Year Festival (Year of the Tiger)! Lunar New Year is particularly celebrated in East Asia, influenced by the Chinese New Year and the Chinese Calendar. It is also a feature of the Hindu-Buddhist calendars of South and Southeast Asia, the Islamic calendar and the Jewish calendar. Dances and fireworks are prevalent throughout the holidays, culminating in the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated on the last day of the New Year’s celebrations. On this night, colorful lanterns light up the houses, and traditional foods such as yuanxiao (sticky rice balls that symbolize family unity), fagao (prosperity cake), and yusheng (raw fish and vegetable salad) are served.
This event is an opportunity to raise awareness about this celebration and East, South, and Southeast Asian culture, as well as build an inclusive culture for our patients and employees with origins in these regions.
How to Participate:
Stop by the cafeterias of your community hospital, or the common areas of your practice site, between 12 and 1:30 p.m. and between 5 and 6:30 p.m. (or while supplies last) to pick up treats and coloring pages and learn more about this celebration. Supplies are limited, so please be sure to stop down early, and don’t forget to “Check In” by scanning the QR code on the table.
Upstander Café
12 to 1 p.m. February 4
Penn State Health’s Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is hosting monthly one-hour Upstander Cafés to increase education on creating a respectful environment by providing an opportunity for employees to discuss scenarios of microaggressions and bias with the goal of practicing their Upstander skills.
If you have any questions or require accommodation of a disability to participate, please email the Diversity Office at diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
Research on Race- and Ethnicity-Based Disparities
12 to 1 p.m. February 8
12 to 1 p.m. April 5
The Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, in collaboration with the Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Studies of Penn State College of Medicine, is presenting a series of “Research on Race- and Ethnicity-Based Disparities” webinars. Each session features a panel of community leaders engaged in innovative research on disparities faced by marginalized communities. The session on February 8 will focus on health disparities facing Black/African American communities, and the session on April 5 will concentrate on disparities facing Asian/Asian American communities.
Registration is required for each session. A Zoom link will be sent to those who register.
A Conversation with Dr. Bernice A. King
12:30 p.m. February 22
Dr. Bernice A. King – chief executive officer of the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. – will join the Penn State community for a virtual conversation on Feb. 22. Penn State students, faculty and staff are invited to attend via Zoom.
King is an orator and peace advocate who, in 2012, was appointed CEO of The King Center, which was founded by her mother, Coretta Scott King. She steadfastly continues to advance her parents’ legacy of Kingian Nonviolence, which she re-branded Nonviolence365. Through her work at The King Center, she educates youth and adults about the nonviolent principles modeled by her parents.
Registration is available online for Penn State students, faculty and staff.
The webinar is sponsored by Penn State Altoona, Penn State DuBois, Penn State Fayette-The Eberly Campus, and Penn State Greater Allegheny, along with Penn State Altoona’s Sarah Simonton Fund, the John and Ann Wolf Speaker Series, the Marjorie Wolf Kuhn Fund, and the Penn State Altoona Student Initiated Fee.
Insight into our Identities: Women in the Workplace and Inclusivity
12 to 1 p.m. March 4
Penn State Health is committed to developing a welcoming and inclusive environment for women in the workplace. The Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion invites to you to participate in a town hall discussion to learn more about our resources and efforts in promoting gender equality. The session concludes with an open dialogue to discover what we as an organization are doing well for this employee population and where we can individually and collectively work to improve our culture, communications and safety for women in our workforce.
Upstander Café (virtual and in-person)
12 to 1 p.m. March 11
Upstander Cafés seek to increase education on creating a respectful environment by providing an opportunity for employees to discuss scenarios of microaggressions and bias with the goal of practicing their Upstander skills.
This session will be held both in-person and virtually and registration is required for both formats.
Understanding the Significance of Passover: A Virtual Showcase
April 15
Join the Penn State Health Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in an all-day celebration of Passover! Together, we will go on a journey of understanding the history of Passover and building awareness to advance an environment of inclusivity for our Jewish employees and patients.
To learn more about how to take part in the event, sign up for the diversity email newsletter here or email diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
Global Diversity Awareness – Arab American Heritage Festival
12 to 1:30 p.m. and 5 to 6:30 p.m. April 22
Join the Penn State Health Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in an Arab American Heritage Festival!
This event is an opportunity to raise awareness about Algeria, Bahrain, Comoro Islands, Dijibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Yemen culture, as well as build an inclusive culture for our patients and employees with origins in these regions.
How to Participate:
Stop by the cafeterias of your community hospital, or the common areas of your practice site, between 12 and 1:30 p.m. and between 5 and 6:30 p.m. (or while supplies last) to pick up treats and coloring pages and learn more about this celebration. Supplies are limited, so please be sure to stop down early, and don’t forget to “Check In” by scanning the QR code on the table.
Previous Issues
You can read through previous issues of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Newsletter below:
Contact the Newsletter Team
Lead editor: Jessica Bogard (jbogard@pennstatehealth.psu.edu)
Co-editors: Dr. Karen Krok (kkrok@pennstatehealth.psu.edu) and Dr. Nasr Ghahramani (nghahramani@pennstatehealth.psu.edu)
Dr. Karen Krok and Dr. Nasr Ghahramani
With questions or suggestions for this newsletter, email Jessica Bogard at jbogard@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
If you're having trouble accessing this content, or would like it in another format, please email the Penn State College of Medicine web department.