Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Celebrating Pride Month - June 2025

• The UW Medicine Office of Healthcare Equity website has information about joining the 2SLGBTQIA+ affinity group (open to all) and resource suggestions to read, watch and listen to learn more about Pride Month. 

• UW Medicine is a proud sponsor of these iconic Pride Month events. Visit our booth at Pride in The Park and Trans Pride Seattle. Or march with us at the parade: 

  • Pride in the Park on Saturday, June 7, from noon-7 p.m. at Volunteer Park. 

  • Trans Pride Seattle on Friday, June 28, from 5-10 p.m. in the Volunteer Park Amphitheater.  

  • Seattle Pride Parade on June 29, at 11 a.m. in downtown Seattle. Sign up to march with UW Medicine (space is limited to 200 employee participants). 

It is more important than ever to support those in our community who identify as LGBTQ+. Currently, nearly 600 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been proposed, passed or are being considered throughout the country, many of them targeting transgender people and gender-affirming care specifically. Many of these bills are based on harmful myths about trans people and gender-affirming care and significantly impact the ability of these individuals to live safe, dignified lives.  

We all have the right to not just survive but to thrive. 

Happy Pride! 

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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.