The University of Pittsburgh MSTP recognizes that diversity is crucial to the advancement of medicine and medical research, the success of our students, and the cultivation of a respectful, safe, and interdisciplinary community. We recognize the broad and systemic challenges that marginalized populations face in accessing and participating in healthcare in this country. Furthermore, we understand that the study of medicine and science carries deep social responsibility and obligation to address historical discrimination within the profession. As such, we strive to foster an environment that recognizes a broad range of identities including age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, and religious faith.
Additionally, we as the University of Pittsburgh MSTP are committed to addressing systemic injustice through actionable change within the medical school and within the broader community through student led committees.
Diversity Committee:
- Mentor/Mentee Partnership
- Diversity Committee believes in the value of faculty mentors to address all facets of the physician-scientist training process both inside and outside the classroom. As such, members work hard to maintain a large network of competent mentors paired with each student.
- Workshops
- Members work with the workshop committee to host workshops discussing how physician-scientists can better address healthcare inequalities at the bench and bedside.
- Diversity Newsletter
- Members run a monthly newsletter that highlights events happening within the Pitt MSTP as well as the community at large.
- Volunteering and Outreach
- Members host summer programs to promote the MD/PhD career path and share local volunteering opportunities.
- Curriculum
- Members work in conjunction with the curriculum committee to ensure that weekly MSTP courses, especially those pertaining to ethics and social medicine are well structured and pull from a representative set of faculty.
In correspondence with these values, the Institutional Training Grant (T32) facilitates the active operation of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. This committee is jointly run by students and faculty and serves to receive and review reports from the Curriculum Committee on DEI-related research material and competency-building activities, advise on recruitment/retention plans, meet with applicants who are underrepresented in medicine, select and facilitate student participation in ABRCMS and outreach activities, and serve as an interface with the broader student body on DEI status of the MSTP relative to inclusiveness in Instructors, Coaches, Career Advisors, and Affiliated Faculty.