The content in this preview is based on the last saved version of your email - any changes made to your email that have not been saved will not be shown in this preview.

Welcome to Equity Matters, a monthly newsletter from the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. In this issue, Coral May, MPA, SHRM-SCP, shares her story of how she was inspired to help bring equity to staff and students across the School of Medicine. We also share recent EDI-related news stories, resources, and coming events.

EDI Spotlight: Coral May, MPA, SHRM-SCP


In the summer of 2020 Black faculty, staff, and students came together from across Duke to discuss the impact racism has had on our country, and to share their stories of dealing with racism in their own lives for the Living While Black symposium. Listening to those stories, Coral May, MPA, SHRM-SCP, knew she had to find a way to make a difference. For this month’s EDI Spotlight interview, May talks to us about how she works to bring equity to recruitment and retention as director of the School of Medicine’s Human Resources Service Center (HRSC). She also discusses the employee resource group ME² (Motivate, Mentor, Educate & Empower) she helped create for Black staff members and enjoying time with family and “fur babies” when she’s not at work.

News and Resources

Cannon Appointed Associate Vice Chair of EDI for Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences

The Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences has appointed Trinitia Y. Cannon, MD, as its vice chair for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Cannon comes to this role with over a decade of program building while also advocating for a work culture of inclusion that more effectively addresses the health of underserved communities. She will work closely with programmatic, divisional, and departmental leaders to ensure that the department's commitment to EDI principles is reflected in its policies and actions.

Willis-Wallace Named Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Pediatrics

Jasmine Willis-Wallace, EdD, has been named vice chair of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Duke Department of Pediatrics, effective July 1, 2022. Willis-Wallace joins Duke from the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. She has a solid background in diversity, equity, and inclusion work in higher education administration, student affairs, teaching, training, and development. In addition, she has over 10 years of professional experience in team leadership, program management, and resource management.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Resources Available (NetID access only)

Duke Health offers Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) resources and training for employees. Learn more about available resources and how Duke Health cares for and supports the LGBTQ+ community.

Hernandez, Martinez-Bianchi appear on Breaking Research Barriers podcast

Two School of Medicine faculty, Adrian Hernandez, MD, and Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, MD, are guests on recent episodes of the Breaking Research Barriers podcast, a production of the Duke University School of Nursing’s Center for Nursing Research, where they discuss lessons they've learned on reducing bias in clinical research and engaging communities to promote health and social justice.

Beyond Zero Sum: White People's Shared Interest in Racial and Economic Justice

In this webinar, Erin Heaney, National Director of Showing Up for Racial Justice, speaks with Heather McGhee, political strategist and author of “The Sum of Us,” to explore the history of strategic racism and how white people can organize their own communities away from a “zero sum” mentality and towards an understanding of their shared interest in fights for justice.

‘A Leader Already’: Second-Year Medical Student Participates in White House Innovators Series

Antoinette Charles, a second-year medical student, has built an impressive record of social justice, activism, and civic service. This summer she was invited to join the White House Health Equity Leaders Roundtable Series, a series of discussions among medical students, clinicians, and policymakers focused on issues including access to care and social determinants of health.

Upcoming Events

National Chats for Change: In the News Part 1

September 7 • 12-1 p.m.


Join the Icahn School of Medicine as we critically deconstruct a current newsworthy topic related to racism and bias in medical school. The first article in this new series will explore WSJ's "Medical Education Goes Woke."

Racially Based Patient Mistreatment

September 7 • 8:15-9:30 a.m.


Pediatrician Jeffrey Baker, MD, PhD, will deliver this Duke Dermatology Grand Rounds lecture.

The New Proposed Rule for Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and What it Means for LGBTQ+ Healthcare

September 7 • 4 p.m.


Human Rights Campaign Legal Director Sarah Warbelow will provide an overview of the proposed rule and how it will impact the LGBTQ+ community.

FGLI Faculty Panel

September 14 • 6-7 p.m.


Join this panel discussion of faculty members who identify as coming from first generation in college or medicine and/or low income (FGLI) backgrounds.

Pushing Cool: Big Tobacco, Racial Marketing, and the Untold Story of the Menthol Cigarette

September 20 • 5:45-7:15 p.m.


Trent Center for Bioethics Lecture presented by Keith Wailoo, PhD (Professor of History, Princeton)

In Honor of Reverend Dr. James Brown: From Neurons to Nations: The Road to Health Equity in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease

September 22 • 12-1 p.m.


Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Grand Rounds, featuring Luis Medina, PhD, a bilingual and bicultural, licensed clinical psychologist and cultural neuropsychologist.

Ophthalmology Annual Diversity and Inclusion Lecture

September 22 • 5:30-6:30 p.m.


Presented by Eve J. Higginbotham, SM, MD, ML, Vice Dean for Penn Medicine Office of Inclusion and Diversity, Perelman School of Medicine

Durham Pride 2022

September 24


• Parade: Duke East Campus,

 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Festival: Duke East Campus,

 12:00-4:00 p.m

• Concert: Duke Central Park,

 5:00-8:00 p.m.

• Party: The Fruit

 10:00 p.m-2:00 a.m.

Visit the Duke Events Calendar for a listing of EDI events across campus  

medschool.duke.edu/EDI

For questions or story suggestions, email the EDI Team

View as Webpage

DUSOM_Horiz_White.png
Twitter  LinkedIn  YouTube