URMC / Microbiology & Immunology / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Need to report an incident related to harassment and/or discrimination? PADH Form The Department of Microbiology and Immunology strives to respect and acknowledge the experiences of the diverse backgrounds of all people. Our differences drive innovation and foster a collaborative culture that is essential to our educational and research missions. MBI and CVBI Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council The Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology established a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Taskforce in July 2020, to explore existing resources and initiatives available through the university and medical center, and make recommendations to leadership to ensure the department and center consider actions and decision-making always through the lens of diversity and inclusion. Our ultimate goal is to cultivate a climate and culture that is welcoming, supportive and continuously improving for our learners, faculty and staff. Council Activities Developed a group that represents grad students, postdocs, faculty, staff, personnel who reside in secondary labs outside of MBI/CVBI, and personnel who do not work in MBI/CVBI, but share our space. Reviewed the URMC Equity and Anti-Racism Action Plan and compared it against the recommendations included in the #ACTIONSSPEAKLOUDER petition. Discussed at length what recommendations are relevant for our own department and center. Developed a survey to gauge the current climate of our department and center with regard to DEI. Drafted an inclusion statement, solicited feedback from all department and center personnel, and adjusted the statement per those survey results. Developed a web presence to be used to monitor and report on progress. Have a DEI-related initiative or event idea? Let us know! Upcoming Events Dr. King's 'Letter from Birmingham Jail': Its Relevance Then and Now January 21 @ 12:00 PM In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, Rev. John Walker, Ph.D., Javauni Forrest, MHC, RN, and Caroline Nestro, Ph.D., MS will discuss Dr. Martin Luther King's powerful "Letter from B... MLK Commemorative Address: Rheeda Walker January 21 @ 6:00 PM Rheeda Walker, a professor of psychology at the University of Houston, will deliver the University's 2022 Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Address. Walker will discuss the mental health challeng... Graduate Women in Science Meeting: Adrienne Morgan February 03 @ 3:00 PM Dr. Adrienne L. Morgan is Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, at the University of Rochester Medical Center; Senior Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion, in the School of Medicine and Dentistr... 11th Annual Tana Grady-Weliky, MD Lecture on Women and Diversity in Medicine February 23 @ 12:00 PM The 2022 Tana A. Grady-Weliky, MD Lecture on Women and Diversity in Medicine guest speaker is Tina Young Poussaint, MD, FACR. Dr. Poussaint is the Lionel W. Young Chair in Radiology at Boston Children... Graduate Women in Science Meeting: Eva Nogales March 17 @ 3:00 PM School of Medicine and Dentistry Class of '62 (G-9425) Dr. Eva Nogales is a Professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator; in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, CA. Her GWIS talk t... More Events »