Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Women's History Month - March 2025

In the U.S., the month of March is a time to honor the contributions and achievements of women throughout history, reflect on the past and present struggle to secure equal rights, and promote gender equity and inclusion.  

This year’s national theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” This theme celebrates the collective strength, equality, and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership, shaping the minds and futures of all generations. 

Remembering Anita Hendrickson, PhD, the first female faculty member at UW Ophthalmology

Until Dr. Anita Hendrickson (1936-2017) began her research in the late 1960s, scientists had largely ignored the development of the human retina, particularly the fovea. This area gives us our high visual acuity. She was the first female faculty member in the UW Department of Ophthalmology and later the first female basic sciences department chair (Biological Structure) at the UW.  

Hendrickson used as an experimental model the Old World monkey, because macaques have a visual system almost identical to the human.

“We knew little at the time about the development of the primate retina,” she said. In 1976, Hendrickson published the first paper on development of the fovea since a German monograph 62 years earlier. She has gone on to identify the basic mechanisms that form this complex structure.

Hendrickson’s pioneering work has helped others in their study of adult macular degeneration, a retinal disease in which foveal function is lost.

Her early work also included a breakthrough technique for tracing neuron anatomy, which allowed scientists to reliably trace pathways in the brains of all species.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma and her Ph.D in biological structure from the UW in 1964.

“There weren’t many of us women when I started here, but we were very close,” Hendrickson said in a 2004 interview. “It could be very lonely, and you had to be twice as good as the average man to be accepted. And you could never let anyone see you cry.”

Hendrickson credited several mentors, particularly Professor Emeritus Robert Kalina, former chair of the Ophthalmology Department, with helping her get started in the 1970s.

“But in a way it might have been easier for women back then. Not as much was expected of us,” she said. “The expectations are so high for women today. They are expected to have a world-class career and raise a family without breaking a sweat.”

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Our DEI Mission

Provide equitable eye care to all through an inclusive and diverse team of faculty, residents, and staff

Our DEI Vision

Become a leader in:

• Inclusive and respectful patient care

• Diverse environment and equitable career opportunities for physicians and trainees

Our Values

• Committed and accountable

• Inclusive and respectful

• Open to new ideas and perspectives

Our Initiatives

• Faculty Task Force on Healthcare Equity (4 West)

• UW Office of Healthcare Equity training

• DEI movie night for trainees and faculty: Black Men in White Coats

• Importance of diversifying the medical workforce

 

Diversity Visiting Student Clerkship Program

The UW Department of Ophthalmology is excited to participate in the Diversity Visiting Student Clerkship Program, a funded program designed to give 4th-year medical students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in medicine the opportunity to experience the exceptional education in ophthalmology offered by the University of Washington. Students will spend two or four weeks at one or more of the UW ophthalmology services, including Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Children’s, and/or VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and care for a variety of patients in our tertiary care centers. Students will also be expected to attend all scheduled medical student and resident teaching sessions, conferences and present at least one case presentation to the other students on the rotation.

Eligibility

The program is open to applicants who are currently enrolled in a U.S. medical school, demonstrate academic excellence, and belong to groups that are recognized as historically underrepresented in the health and science professions, including Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and Native American (American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian). Applicants should be strongly motivated to pursue a career in Ophthalmology.

Application
The funded Visiting Clerkship position will be available in June, July, August, or September. Funding includes a stipend of up to $1,500 to cover housing and travel costs for either two or four weeks.

Students must also apply through VSLO and submit a personal statement separately to ophthclerk@uw.edu.