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, Dane Whicker, PhD, tells us about his work as director of gender and sexual diversity initiatives for the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We also share recent EDI-related news stories, resources, and coming events.

EDI Spotlight: Dane Whicker, PhD

Dane Whicker, PhD, grew up as a gay person in Arkansas during a time when marriage equality was a decade away, slurs were both common and accepted, and allies or members of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities were hard to find or nonexistent. Those experiences taught Whicker the value of support, acceptance, and open communication while inspiring him to make a difference for other people growing up in difficult circumstances.

Now, Whicker is working to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community in the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, the Clinical Translational and Translational Science Institute, and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. For his EDI Spotlight interview, Whicker talks to us about his work in each of these roles. He also shares how he came out at age 14 and how that experience informed his perspective as an LGBTQ+ advocate.

News and Resources

School’s Black Employee Resource Group Hosts Second Annual Juneteenth Celebration

Duke University School of Medicine’s Black Employee Resource Group, called ME², held its second annual Juneteenth celebration on June 15. Coral May, MPA, SHRM-SCP, director of the School of Medicine’s Human Resources Service Center, was the keynote speaker. The theme was “Raising Your Standards.”

Equity Advancement Symposium to Feature David Asai, PhD

The keynote speaker for the 2023 Equity Advancement Symposium on July 27 is David Asai, PhD, senior director of education at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Learn more about Asai’s achievements and register for the symposium.

The Changing Landscape of Medical School Admissions

Duke University School of Medicine is taking a holistic approach to building a diverse class of future leaders. The school’s admissions process is tailor-made to go beyond transcripts and test scores to identify students who will not only thrive at Duke but will also have a significant impact throughout their careers.

Black Men with Metastatic Prostate Cancer May Benefit From Drug Combination

A drug combination that shows little overall survival benefit in white men with advanced prostate cancer has a far greater effect in Black men with the disease, according to interim results from a study led by the Duke Cancer Institute.

Duke Pathology Honors One of Duke Hospital’s First Black Employees

The Department of Pathology hosted a reception on May 26 to celebrate the legacy of Donald N. Love, one of Duke Hospital’s first employees. The event also recognized past and present recipients of an award named in his honor.

Free Mini Course: LGBTQ+ Pronoun Use for Healthcare Professionals

Respectful use of gender-affirming language is essential to providing inclusive health care for the LGBTQ+ community. This free mini course offered by Quality Interactions is designed to boost your LGBTQ cultural competency and help you and your staff deliver inclusive care in a welcoming environment. Use this 15-minute module to enhance your understanding of respectful pronoun use in patient interactions.

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