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Welcome to Equity Matters, a monthly newsletter from the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Equity Matters is distributed to faculty, staff, and students in the Duke University School of Medicine. In this issue, medical student Dorothy Gheorghiu discusses her role as president of Duke’s Jewish Medical Student Association. We also share recent EDI-related news stories, resources, and coming events. |
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Growing up in the rural South, third-year Duke medical student Dorothy Gheorghiu was often the only Jewish person in her school, her neighborhood, and other settings. These experiences made her keenly aware of the importance of inclusion and belonging, and she was grateful to find a welcoming community when she came first came to Duke as an undergrad. | |
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In this month’s EDI Spotlight, Gheorghiu shares how as president of Duke’s Jewish Medical Student Association, she is helping other Jewish students enjoy that same sense of community and belonging. She also reveals what brings her joy outside of medical school, from cuddling with her dog, Frodo, to cheering on the Blue Devils at Duke basketball games. | | |
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Celebrating a 20-Year Legacy of Boosting Student Interest in STEM
Duke University School of Medicine’s BOOST Program recently celebrated 20 years of inspiring young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM). An event held last month recognized the program’s anniversary and honored the legacy of BOOST’s founder and pioneering Duke physician, the late Brenda Armstrong, MD.
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Members of the School of Medicine’s Black Employee Resource Group, ME2, were among the volunteers who served the wider community during the Rotary Club’s annual service event on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. During the event, held at the Duke School, ME2 joined other volunteers to make more than 58,000 meals for distribution throughout Durham. With work from other groups included, the event packed around 150,000 meals in total.
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Filling in the Gaps
Duke's PRIME PREP program helped Gabriella Torres achieve her goal of being accepted into the Duke PhD program in integrative immunobiology. PRIME PREP is one of many efforts at Duke aimed at keeping talented people from all backgrounds on the path to becoming scientists and physicians.
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Duke medical student Nicola Young and faculty mentor Anne Berry, MD, share how they are reshaping postpartum care through service-learning.
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The Pathologist Magazine interviewed Professor of Pathology Andrea T. Deyrup, MD, PhD, for its Outside the Lab feature as part of a two-part series about undergraduate medical education and race-based medicine. The interviews focus on Deyrup’s experience as an undergraduate medical educator as well as her extensive antiracism work.
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There is still time to nominate someone for the Michelle Winn Inclusive Excellence Award. The award recognizes individuals in the School of Medicine who exemplify a commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership in helping to create a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment. The nomination deadline is February 17.
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February 5 • Noon-1 p.m.
Join colleagues from Mt. Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine to explore the nuances of engaging with or stepping back from socio-political issues, particularly those related to race, equity, and justice, within educational settings.
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P.R.I.D.E. Foundational Training 2: On Privilege and Oppression
February 5 • Noon-1:30 p.m.
Duke Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
100 Bryan Center
This training offered by the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity explores systems of privilege and oppression and how they support and uphold allosexism, cissexism, and heterosexism alongside other systems that benefit some at the expense of others.
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MaryAnn Black Distinguished Health Equity Symposium 2025
February 7 • 3-6:30 p.m.
Durham Convention Center
301 W. Morgan St., Durham, NC 27701
Hosted by the Duke Cancer Institute’s Community Outreach, Engagement, and Equity (COEE) office in honor of the late MaryAnn Black, a powerful advocate for health equity.
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Pronoun Primer: A Pathway to Inclusion
February 12 • 11 a.m.-Noon
Zoom
In this session, the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity will provide an overview of gender pronouns and discuss their importance in creating inclusive spaces for transgender and non-binary students.
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Black History Month Lecture: Nontombi Naomi Tutu
February 12 • 5 p.m.
Penn Pavilion
The Mary Lou Williams Center welcomes Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu as its Black History Month speaker. Reverend Tutu, daughter of Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, draws on her experiences growing up under apartheid in South Africa to advocate for human rights and the cost of oppression.
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2025 Cook Society Awards Ceremony
February 13 • 6 p.m.
Washington Duke Inn
3001 Cameron Blvd
Join the Cook Society for an evening of reflection and celebration. This joyous occasion honors the legacy of Dr. Samuel DuBois Cook and his dedication to social justice and equality. Five individuals who embody Dr. Cook's vision will be recognized.
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¡DALHE! Virtual Cafecito with Andrea Thoumi, MPP, MSc
February 14 • Noon-1:00 p.m.
Join the ¡DALHE! career committee at its February Virtual Cafecito, featuring Andrea Thoumi, MPP, MSc, first-year doctoral student at Duke University's Department of Population Health Sciences and researcher with the Research to Eliminate Global Cancer Disparities lab.
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Gender Equity in Research 2025
February 19 • Noon-1:30 p.m.
Join the Duke CTSI Center for Equity in Research for a transformative workshop focused on the core principles of gender equity in research. This virtual workshop is ideal for faculty, research staff, trainees, students, and community researchers who seek to develop more equitable research.
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Women's Health Symposium
February 21 • 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Trent Semans Center Great Hall
The Scientific Meeting on All Aspects of Women’s Health and the Influence of Sex as a Biological Variable on Health Conditions will feature speakers Sharonne Hayes, MD, a cardiologist and professor of cardiovascular medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Cynthia Kuhn, PhD, a professor of pharmacology and cancer biology at the Duke University School of Medicine. Organized by the Duke/NCCU BIRCWH Career Development Program.
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February 27 • Noon-1:30 p.m.
Duke Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
100 Bryan Center
This training offered by the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity provides concrete actions one can take to provide tangible support, engage in advocacy, and move towards greater social equity for individuals with marginalized sexual orientations, romantic orientations, gender identity, and gender expressions.
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March 19 • 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University (Lecture Hall)
2001 Campus Drive
The Duke community is invited to attend the Donald T. Moore, MD, Endowed Lecture. Featuring Haywood L. Brown, MD, senior associate vice president of academic and faculty affairs for the University of South Florida Health and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology for the Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida.
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