Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)
McGovern Medical School is committed to an institutional culture that fosters the recruitment, nurturing and retention of a diverse student body, trainees, staff and faculty that is reflective of the community we serve.
Let's Celebrate Our Diversity!

September
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15th-Oct. 15th)

2nd : Labor Day - national tribute to the contributions workers make to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country
2nd : Ganesh Chaturthi - Hindu festival celebrating birth of Ganesha
11th : Patriot Day - 911 remembrance honoring those who lost their lives
21st : International Day of Peace - United Nations resolution, globally shared date for all humanity to commit to and build a culture of Peace above all difference
30th : Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year

October
National Disability Awareness Month

7th : Child Health Day - awareness of how we can protect and develop children's health
9th : Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) - holiest day of the year in Judaism, central themes are atonement and repentance, approx. 25-hour period of fasting and prayer
14th : Columbus Day - anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in America
31st : Halloween - originated as a pagan festival; decorations, costumes, and children trick-or-treating are common activities; associated symbols include pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons

November
National Native American Heritage Month

1st : All Saints' Day - a celebration of all Christian saints in Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant churches; this day includes church services and prayer for the dead
3rd : Daylight Saving Time Ends - turn back the clock 1 hour
11th : Veterans Day - honors military veterans
28th : Thanksgiving Day - holiday celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year; generally a family celebration revolving around a feast
ODI Table Talk
The Rio Grande Valley
Featuring Andrea Hernandez and Rigo Gutierrez
Upcoming Events
AMP

August 29th

The first Aspiring Medical Professionals (AMP) visit is right around the corner! It is an ODI outreach program to engage with at-risk high school students in the Houston area. This program allows students to learn more about medical professions provided by UTHealth (including McGovern Medical) and participate in activities such as the anatomy lab.
To volunteer, please email Luna Hernandez .
Annual Cultural Fair

November 4th
12:00 PM
Leather Lounge

ODI is having its annual Cultural Fair! Students, faculty, and staff get together to celebrate and learn about difference cultures and countries with delicious food sampling, music, dance, and much more! If you are interested in having/joining a table or volunteering, please email Luna Hernandez . Otherwise, we hope to see you there!

Veterans Day Program

November 11th
12:00 PM
MSB 1.006

ODI will host this annual program with a special veteran guest who will share their story.

Recent Events
Wonderkids Workshop

Partnering with UT Physicians to celebrate National Cleft-Craniofacial Awareness Month, McGovern's Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted the annual Wonderkids Workshop. Children had the opportunity to hear from medical professionals, tour a pediatric ambulance, learn about the human body in our anatomy lab with organs, and make new friends.
MS1 Orientation Scavenger Hunt
Strength lies in our diversity. Tell us what makes you unique.
Where are you from?

MS1 students stopped by our office to get to know us, and we got to know them as well!
Spotlights
Faculty

Joining UT Health Houston in 2005, Dr. Kumaravel has worked his way to Professor of Radiology and Orthopedics as well as being the Chief of Musculoskeletal Radiology. Dr. Kumaravel focuses on sports related injuries with the privilege to work with teams such as the NFL Texans and many others. Growing up in South India, he was influenced heavily by his father who is a physician as well making significant differences in peoples lives particularly in developing countries. He appreciates each role a person has to offer to the workplace from the janitor to the head of the department.
Resident

Dr. George found his path in medicine having a sibling who was regularly in and out of the hospital. This lead to a natural curiosity and eventually to volunteering and shadowing at Memorial Hermann. His current clinic faculty mentors, Drs. Love and Barratt, continue to inspire him. He believes diversity and inclusion in medical education plays an important role in creating a diverse practitioner pool to provide care in Houston.
Student

Following her calling to medicine, Rebecca has found happiness and fulfillment even through the toughest times. She views UTHealth as a home and appreciates the village of support - faculty, students, and staff - who have helped her get this far. While she has many inspirational role models, one of her favorites is Dr. Vivien Thomas who, in the 1940s, developed surgical procedures to treat blue babies (she also recommends seeing the move Something the Lord Made which is based on his story).
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