Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Celebrating ANHPI Heritage Month - May 2025

 

In May, our national heritage month celebrates the contributions to the culture and history of the United States of people who identify as Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (ANHPI). They are part of a multifaceted community, encompassing heritages from more than 30 countries and ethnic groups and representing more than 100 different languages.

UW Medicine: Employees who identify as ANHPI represent about 25% of our workforce and advance our mission in many different roles across the organization. The following recognition activities are planned for the month and are open to all:

• The flags will fly for the entire month and are specially designed to represent the breadth of ANHPI communities with 12 flowers, which are each a symbol of a nation.

• A series of feature stories on Vitals later in the month will provide a more personal look at some of our employees’ cultural traditions and the influences that led them to choose careers in healthcare.

• The Harborview and UW Medical Center cafeterias will feature special menu items selected by ANHPI colleagues that are part of their culinary traditions.

• Email badges, Zoom backgrounds and posters can be downloaded from the UW Medicine brand resources website to celebrate and show appreciation for our ANHPI coworkers.

• The UW Medicine Office of Healthcare Equity website has information about joining the ANHPI affinity group (open to all), the origins and history of the heritage month, and links to articles about the ANHPI community.

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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.