School of Medicine Diversity Plan

Diversity in the School of Medicine

The students, residents, faculty and administration of the University of Colorado School of Medicine (SOM) believe that diversity is a value that is central to the School’s educational, research, community service and health care missions. Therefore, the SOM is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, house staff, faculty and senior administration.

In 2015 the School of Medicine revised its comprehensive Diversity Plan. In the 2015 Plan the SOM articulated these 6 strategic goals. 1) admit qualified students and appoint qualified residents, fellows, faculty, staff and senior administrative leaders who represent diversity, focusing on the specific diversity categories outlined in the Plan; 2) promote the academic advancement and success of minority students, house officers and faculty; 3) enhance cultural, bilingual and diversity instruction throughout the curriculum; 4) break down racial, gender and ethnic stereotypes and promote cross-cultural understanding and an inclusive climate; 5) strengthen outreach to underserved communities, through service and learning projects, health care outreach and community-based participatory research; and 6) promote unexplored research agendas and new areas of scholarship related to cultural and racial inequities in health and health care. The SOM’s diversity programs seek to enhance diversity and cultural competency in the health care workforce, improve access to health care for poor, minority and under-served populations and, ultimately, eliminate racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in health and health care services.

The 2015 School of Medicine Diversity Plan was reviewed and updated by the Diversity Council in 2022. While the strategic goals remain the same, updates were made where appropriate to note progress and areas in need of continued support.

Improving the Health of Patients and Populations

There is strong evidence that achieving diversity of the health care workforce translates directly into improved delivery of health care services to underserved and minority populations. As summarized by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in its 2014 Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Planning Guide, “the climate enhanced by a diverse learner and teacher body ultimately increases students’ awareness of health and health care disparities in nearby populations and increases students’ interest in service to underserved communities and overall civic commitment.”

The SOM’s Diversity Plan is also driven by a heightened awareness that diversity and inclusion strengthen teamwork and communication in patient care settings and are directly linked to improved treatment outcomes.