Leadership Moves to Reshape and Strengthen URMC’s Inclusive Culture
A change in URMC leadership integrates our equity and inclusion efforts closely with those of the University and dedicates resources to building an anti-racist culture, while establishing a new center to advance gender and leadership.
Effective July 1, Adrienne Morgan, Ph.D., became senior associate dean (SAD) for Equity and Inclusion at the School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD), while continuing to serve as associate vice president in the University’s Office of Equity and Inclusion.
Morgan assumes the role from Linda Chaudron, M.D., M.S., senior associate dean and URMC vice president for Inclusion and Culture, who has begun a year-long, partial sabbatical to develop plans for a new faculty and staff leadership development function while becoming director of the Paul M. Schyve, M.D. Center for Bioethics. Chaudron has served in a deanship and administrative role for diversity since 2011, and has been acting director of the Schyve Center since November of 2019.
Upon her return, Chaudron will serve as director of a newly formed URMC Center for Gender and Leadership. The Center will help faculty and staff from across URMC and its health network to develop leadership skills to advance their careers.
“With her long passion for gender equity issues, Linda is the ideal person to develop and launch a center to foster leadership,” said URMC CEO and School of Medicine and Dentistry Dean Mark B. Taubman, M.D. “As URMC and our health system grow, this kind of profession mentorship and career development are much in demand.”
Morgan Returns to Medical Center
Juggling two major roles may seem like a tall order for any leader, but Morgan – known for her intelligence, approachability, optimism and sense of humor – takes it in stride. After all, she’s returning to familiar terrain. For nearly 20 years, she directed the Center for Advocacy, Community Health, Education and Diversity before accepting the University-wide position last November.
While assistant dean at SMD, Morgan worked with fellow deans and faculty leaders to improve the recruitment and retention of students underrepresented in medicine by establishing affinity groups, pipeline programs, and visiting clerkships. She linked SMD students to community engagement opportunities – creating highly effective programs like the UR Well Medical Student-run Free Clinic, Street Outreach, and Rochester Young Scientist Club.
As SMD’s new SAD, Morgan will oversee diversity and inclusion initiatives across all programs within the medical school – including undergraduate, graduate and graduate medical education. The goal is to foster an anti-racist culture and create a path of opportunity that shepherds underrepresented individuals interested in medicine through early education to undergraduate, medical school, residency/post-doctoral studies to faculty.
“I am thrilled that Adrienne has agreed to take on this role and will launch comprehensive and inclusive action planning,” Taubman said. “She’s a proven, energetic leader who knows our challenges and is trusted by faculty and learners. And by serving as the link with the University, she ensures that policies, interventions, and approaches are consistent across the enterprise.”
As the University’s associate vice president, Morgan will continue to work with the Richard Feldman Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Mercedes Ramírez Fernández, in leading the planning and implementation of URMC-wide programs that foster an anti-racist culture and build workforce diversity across all University faculty and staff.
“I am delighted that Adrienne has accepted this position at the Medical Center. We have a fantastic, strong working relationship and I believe that she is the perfect person to continue the development and implementation of successful equity, social justice and inclusion initiatives that align with wider University efforts,” Ramírez Fernández said. “I am also grateful to Mark Taubman’s leadership in taking this important step, and I look forward to carrying on our close, productive relationship that benefits the entire institution.”
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