Welcome to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webpage for the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
CU PM&R is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our clinical, academic, and service work. We recognize that diversity encompasses differences in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, and political beliefs.
In alignment with the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation's (AAPM&R) Diversity and Inclusion Statement, we strive to create a culture that is inclusive and respectful of all individuals, where all members feel valued, respected, and supported. This includes not just promoting diversity but also actively working to eliminate discrimination, bias, and disparities in our department.
Our department also follows the University of Colorado School of Medicine Diversity Plan, which aims to increase the diversity of the medical student body, faculty, and staff, and to foster an inclusive environment where all members feel respected and valued.
Our CU PM&R Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is dedicated to implementing these goals through:
Collectively, we will strive to ensure that our patients receive culturally appropriate, quality medical care. Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable environment for our patients, faculty, and staff.
The committee is aided by the consultation of our Advisory Group, Krista Walker, PhD (DEI training consultation), and Olawunmi Ogunwo, JD, PHR (HR/legal consultation).
The INCLUDES project (Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science) is an NSF-funded initiative to promote the recruitment, hiring, and retention of STEM faculty from underrepresented groups.
The INCLUDES project has recently evolved into an alliance called, “Aspire: The National Alliance for Inclusive & Diverse STEM Faculty”. The NSF INCLUDES Aspire Alliance is broadly pursuing strategic goals focused on faculty:
The Aspire Alliance program assessment process aims to deepen our understanding about the strategies and conditions that support increasing inclusivity and diversity in STEM departments and programs (which includes medicine). The PM&R DEI Committee has recommended that our department engage in the Aspire Alliance program assessment process.
The resulting findings from the proposed Aspire Alliance Self-Study at PM&R should identify the factors that will help to inform what propels or impedes efforts to foster diversity and inclusion in our department.
This is a broad effort that will depend on our collective contributions. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion has graciously offered to assist with this process over the next academic year. The committee will provide the report to the Department Chair and make the findings available to our faculty and staff. More updates will be provided soon about the process, the timelines, and our progress.
Minority groups face barriers in accessing quality health care, professional advancement, and representation in immunology research efforts as a result of institutional racism that if unaddressed can perpetuate a lack of diversity. In 2021, the AAI Minority Affairs Committee convened a cross section of academic and industry scientists from underrepresented groups at various stages of their professions to discuss how best to address the toll racism takes on study design and scientific careers. Panelists drew directly from their own experiences as scientists to share perspectives and strategies for countering a lack of representation in clinical research, responding to microaggressions, navigating academic advancement, and providing effective mentorship. The session reinforced the need for minority scientists to take an active role in advocating for diversity, engaging mentors, and taking responsibility to face rather than avoid institutional obstacles. Overall, increased dialogue and institutional awareness of the experience of scientists from underrepresented groups in research remain the best tools to ensure a health equity mindset and advancement of their careers.
Get to Know: Dr. Adedayo Balogun
What made you want to pursue a career in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation?
As a medical student, I had a wide and varied interest in all of my different clinical rotations. I had a strong interest in the musculoskeletal system, and the neurological and neuroanatomy courses. When I was exposed to a PM&R rotation, it was the first rotation that I felt completely in tune with the physicians that were present. It helped address all of the most important aspects of a person’s healthcare, and took into account all aspects of a person’s experience when taking part in their care.
How has the CU PM&R residency program allowed you to pursue your goals?
This residency program has so far allowed me to cultivate my experience and independence in different rehabilitation settings and learn how to navigate the different barriers and challenges that patients face routinely. I've been exposed to many different versions of being a PM&R physician, and I have had the ability to explore these different areas in a way that I can prepare myself for life after residency.
What is your “why”?
My “why” is always to bring the best care to as many people that I can first and foremost. I want to be able to deliver that same care to people that have historically been overlooked, and taken advantage of as well. I aspire to provide patients that may not always feel seen or heard to understand that I’m taking their concerns to heart, and I understand the perspective that many of their other care providers may not. I also strive to be a positive example for others who may look like me or identify with me. I want to be more than an example, but a support system for those coming after me.
February is a month to honor and celebrate Black leaders. What does this mean for you?
Black History Month is an opportunity to take a step back and reflect on the ways that black people have contributed to the world. We have been leaders for change and equity, leaders in science, health care, ingenuity and all aspects of life. Being a leader, to me is about being accountable. I think that having priorities, morals, and standards, and holding strong to those values is all that it takes to be a leader.
What leadership role(s) have you taken up and what impact have they had on you and your time in medical school or residency? As a medical student I took part in my school's Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapter. As president of this chapter, we had a hand in reaching out to the community for other people to understand that becoming a physician was attainable, finishing school and going to the college opened plenty of doors, and providing support and guidance for undergraduate students that had an interest in going to medical school.
Being a physician inherently occupies a leadership role. As a physiatrist, we regularly take part in team meetings, where we discuss patients with PT’s, OT’s, RN’s, social workers, case managers, and speech therapists. Sometimes, being a leader is understanding how the team functions most effectively, other times it’s trusting your teammates to their expertise and simply providing an overall team goal for everyone to strive towards.
What words of encouragement do you have to share with future students of color pursuing careers in healthcare?
The words of encouragement that I have for those students would be to always show up and be yourself. You have a unique experience and perspective that matters, and never let fear of failure keep you from trying something that you are passionate about. Do your best to surround yourself with people that you admire and have similar goals as yourself. Not competitors, but people who will lift you up with them. These are the people that you’ll grow the closest to both professionally and personally.
Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement
Office for Educational Outreach and Pathway Initiatives
Center for Identity & Inclusion
Veteran & Military Student Services
Office of Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion (ORMDI)
Office of Academic Affiliations Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
March: National Women's History Month
March: Irish-American Heritage Month
March 13-April 15: National Deaf History Month
March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility
April: Arab-American Heritage Month
April: Dalit History Month
April 6: International Asexuality Day
April 26: Lesbian Visibility Day
May: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May: Older Americans Month
May: Jewish American Heritage Month
May: Haitian Heritage Month
May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
May 19: Agender Pride Day
May 24: Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness Day
March: Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month
March: National Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
March: National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
March: National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March: National Endometriosis Awareness Month
March: National Kidney Month
March: National Nutrition Month
March: National Brain Injury Awareness Month
March: Trisomy Awareness Month
March: Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month
March 10: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
March 10-16: National Sleep Awareness Week
March 10-16: Patient Safety Awareness Week
March 11-17: Brain Awareness Week
March 14: World Kidney Day
March 17-23: National Poison Prevention Week
March 18-24: National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
March 20: National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
March 24: World Tuberculosis Day
March 26: American Diabetes Alert Day
March 26: Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness
March 30: World Bipolar Day
April: Cancer Control Month
April: Alcohol Awareness Month
April: Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month
April: Autism Acceptance Month
April: National Child Abuse Prevention Month
April: National Donate Life Month
April: National Facial Protection Month
April: National Minority Health Month
April: National Parkinson's Awareness Month
April: National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
April: Occupational Health Month
April: Oral Cancer Awareness Month
April: Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
April: STI Awareness Month
April: Stress Awareness Month
April: Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
April 1-7: National Public Health Week
April 7: World Health Day
April 10: National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
April 18: National Transgender HIV Testing Day
April 18: Biomedical Research Awareness Day
April 21-27: National Infertility Awareness Week
April 22-26: National Youth Violence Prevention Week
April 22-26: Every Kid Healthy Week
April 22-29: National Infant Immunization Week
April 24-30: World Immunization Day
May: American Stroke Awareness Month
May: Arthritis Awareness Month
May: Better Hearing and Speech Month
May: Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
May: Healthy Vision Month
May: Hepatitis Awareness Month
May: Lupus Awareness Month
May: Skin Cancer Awareness Month
May: Mental Health Awareness Month
May: National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
May: National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
May: High Blood Pressure Education Month
May: National Osteoporosis Awareness Month
May: National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
May 1-7: Children's Mental Health Awareness Week
May 5: World Hand Hygiene Day
May 8: National Amyloidosis Day
May 12: ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day
May 12-18: National Women's Health Week
May 12-18: Food Allergy Awareness Week
May 13-19: National Stuttering Awareness Week
May 18: HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
May 19: National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
May 22: World Pre-eclampsia Day
May 24: Don't Fry Day
May 31: World No Tobacco Day