At DGSOM, we aspire to celebrate a culture of inclusion where all medical students feel welcomed, included, respected, and heard. We honor those devoted to reducing health care disparities and providing care to all in the context of cultural humility. For the Office of Equity and Diversity Inclusion (EDI), the team consists of three physician faculty with EDI and clinical responsibilities: Senior Associate Dean Dr. Lynn Gordon, and Assistant Deans, Dr. Kathleen Brown and Dr. Valencia Walker. Administrative professional Isadora Avendaño complete the EDI team and provide critical support and direction of our EDI efforts. You may contact any one of us to speak with you about any questions, concerns or ideas you want to share.
The Office of Equity and Diversity Inclusion provides advocacy, advice and support to current DGSOM students. Weekly, open office hours provide protected time for individuals to stop in and discuss a variety of topics related to their academic trajectory, future career plans or concerns related to diversity and inclusion. We collaborate with students to enrich the curriculum in terms of health disparities, social justice, diversity and inclusion issues. We actively support student affinity groups, including SNMA, LMSA, AMA, AMWA, Pride Alliance, APAMSA, JMSA and DGSOM First Gen to promote programs that enhance equity, diversity and inclusion within and beyond the DGSOM community. We also work with DGSOM pipeline programs to provide opportunities for current students to engage with pre-health students and share encouragement to those hoping to pursue careers in medicine, health care and the biomedical sciences.
At the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM), the core values of diversity and inclusion are inseparable from our institutional goals of excellence in all tenets of healthcare, research, education, and community engagement. With the active support of its leadership, DGSOM is committed to recruiting and retaining outstanding students, residents, fellows, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds who represent the communities served by the University of California. Our goal is to foster an environment of respect that celebrates the unique perspectives, contributions, and expertise that each individual brings to DGSOM. Through a process of continual reevaluation, reflection, and feedback, we are unwavering in our dedication to achieve justice, equity and diversity inclusion.
Adopted March 2020 by the UCLA School of Medicine Faculty Executive Committee
“Diversity – a defining feature of California’s past, present and future – refers to the variety of personal experiences, values and world views that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and geographic region, and more.”
Contact the the David Geffen School Office of Equity and Diversity Inclusion
| Lynn K. Gordon, MD, PhD Senior Associate Dean |
Kathleen Brown, MD |
Valencia Walker, MD, MPH |
| Isadora Avendaño Assistant to the Dean |
Melanie Bonilla Program Coordinator |
Please send any inquiries to DGSOMEDI@mednet.ucla.edu
885 Tiverton Drive, Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 825-2253
(310) 206-3217
For additional contact information please see the The David Geffen School of Medicine Office of Equity and Diversity Inclusion staff directory.
