Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the people and cultures of these diverse communities, which represent dozens of ethnicities and exponentially more unique languages and dialects.  

The first presidential proclamation for “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week” was signed in May 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. In 1990, Congress passed a law expanding the observance to a month-long recognition for that year. It became an official month-long observance in 1992.

The month-long recognition was extended to include Pacific Islanders in 2009 and Native Hawaiians in 2021, which makes the observance not only an immigration story but an Indigenous story, too. Disaggregating “Native Hawaiian” and “Pacific Islander” from the umbrella terminology “Asian/Pacific” recognizes the diverse narratives of Pasifika peoples (Pasifika people are those originating or living in Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia).

As designated by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC), the national theme for 2024 is “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation.” This theme honors the visionaries who have shaped Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history and those who mark the present and influence the future. The Council encourages local and national governments to prioritize creating leadership and advancement opportunities for Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander peoples.
 

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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. Learn more here.

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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