MCH Inclusive Excellence
Belonging and Engagement
The 2019 Gillings School Inclusive Excellence (IE) Action Plan and Inclusive Excellence Council included representatives from all units in the school. In conjunction with the Council, each department in the School began efforts to meet and enhance inclusive excellence goals and activities. The MCH department created an MCH diversity, equity and inclusion work group in 2020. The work group included three subcommittees focused on curriculum, faculty and staff training, and diversity and support – key aspects of the School’s IE action plan. Subsequently, upon a recommendation from the 2022 MCH Culture of Equity Report, the department consolidated them into a single working group, now called the Inclusive Excellence – Belonging and Engagement Committee.
Claudia Fernandez, DrPH
The Inclusive Excellence Belonging and Engagement Committee
Lauren Caton, Hiba Fatima, Lauren Freda, Aparna Kachoria, Martina Spain, Lauren Spigel
MPH Students
Mia Goodson, Iman Love
Staff
Michel Abel-Shoup, Leslie DeRosset, Kathy Donnald
Faculty
Claudia Fernandez (Chair), Carolyn Halpern, Bharathi Zvara
Get Involved
Installed and initiated August 25, 2023, the board serves as a central onsite communications hub supporting IE activities. Learn more about trainings, ways to get involved and student spotlights.
Reflection and Connection
Lunch-and-Learn Discussion Groups
Twice a month, bring your lunch and listen to a rotating faculty-led or student-led discussion. (Student selected reflection topic from vetted list developed in Clinical Scholars.)
- October 10: Affirmative Action (Hosted by Mia Goodson)
- October 24: Immigrant Health (Hosted by Claudia Fernandez)
- November 7: LGBTQ Health-Marriage Protection Act (Hosted by Mia Goodson)
- December 5: TBA (Hosted by Leslie deRosset)
- January 30: Careers in MCH (Hosted by Leslie deRosset, PhD and Amy Mullenix, MSPH, MSW)
- February 6: TBA (Hosted by Claudia Fernandez)
- February 20: Discussion on Abortion Funding (Hosted by MCH Post-Doctoral Fellow Whitney Arey)
- March 5: Resume writing (Hosted by Lidia Colato Rae, Career Services)
- March 19: Salary Negotiations (Hosted by Lidia Colato Rae, Career Services)
- April 2: Implementation Science in Action! Real change, real communities. (Hosted by Lindsey Yates and Melissa Green)
Student Listening Sessions
- September 6: Empanadas on the patio
- October 26: Campfire s’mores on the patio
Skills Development Outreach Sessions (Trainings)
- Upstander: Skills for being an ally, advocate; building an alliance and serving as a co-conspirator: 2-hour workshop, September 29, 2-4 p.m. MGC 1301.
