Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity & Inclusion within the University of Washington Department of Radiology
It is our mission to recruit the brightest, most diverse and emotionally mature medical students and physicians to our residency and fellowship programs. Along with leaders from departments across the School of Medicine and the University as a whole, we are committed to fostering a collaborative, diverse learning community and trainee body.
The health needs of the communities in our region are most effectively addressed when our physicians reflect the diversity of community we serve. Furthermore, our medical system benefits substantially from the collective knowledge and lived experiences that a diverse trainee body brings.
Our intention is to create a community that recognizes and values everyone’s unique contributions regardless of socioeconomic status, race, culture, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, geography, mental and physical status, military status or age.
Adlai Grayson, PGY-4
Dr. Adlai Grayson, PGY-4, serves as the UW Radiology Diversity Representative for the 2024-2025 academic year to provide leadership and a cohesive voice for under-represented minorities, and to ensure that residents have a seat at the table when discussing department and institution-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Our former Diversity Representatives, Dr. Segen Aklilu, along with former co-resident, Dr. Toluwalase Ashimolowo and former UW radiology resident and fellow, Dr. Berthina Coleman, delivered a presentation to our faculty and the Department of Radiology entitled, “Diversity & inclusion at UW: Where We Are Now and How to Move Forward,” which summarized the collective lived experiences of Black and Latinx residents in our residency program. The work they put into this was eye-opening and inspiring. Our department has worked tirelessly since to ensure that DEI efforts are at the forefront of decision-making processes.
Dr. Nitin Venugopal, PGY-5
Dr. Nitin Venugopal, PGY-5, serves as the UW Radiology Research Representative for the 2024-2025 academic year to promote research opportunities within the Radiology department. He helps residents find mentors for their research ideas, whether large or small! He also helps coordinate the annual Research Fair, to widen the impact of UW Radiology research to a wider audience.
Motivated by our brilliant residents, our residency program’s mission and that of the University, our department leadership has organized a recurring faculty development lecture series. This lecture series includes these phenomenal individuals and topics:
Alden Landry, MD, MPH, Assistant Dean, Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership, Harvard Medical School – Advancing Health Equity
Carolynn M DeBenedectis, MD, Associate Professor & Vice Chair for Education, University of Massachusetts Medical School – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Radiology: Educating the next generation of radiologists
Kristin K. Porter, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, – The Imperative of Inclusion in Radiology: Creating a more inclusive environment
Heike Daldrup-Link, MD, Professor and Associate Chair for Diversity in the Department of Radiology at Stanford University – Diversity Initiative at Stanford Radiology: How to be an ally
Women in Radiology
Who we are, and what we do
The mission of Women in Radiology (WIR) is to provide a strong community of support, mentoring, and resource sharing for female physicians in our department. Formal and informal events are held throughout the year, with past events including happy hour gatherings after work, mentoring panel events co-hosted with the Washington State Radiological Society, dinner banquets with invited speakers, and a book club. Discussions at these various events have included the meaning of mentoring, the variable support (or lack thereof) for parental leave at different practice groups, and work life “balance” as a woman in medicine. We also explore the reasons behind fewer women in radiology compared to other medical specialties, the need for an outreach program by our WIR chapter at the undergraduate and medical school levels, and encouragement of our junior members to “jump in” and get involved in leadership positions. The group is open to our residents, fellows, and faculty members across all disciplines within the Department of Radiology within University of Washington and Virginia Mason. Any interested undergraduate and medical students are also welcome to participate.
Background
Dr. Yoshimi Anzai, a former Professor of Radiology at the University of Washington, founded Women in Radiology at the University of Washington in 2005 as an extension of her participation with the American Association for Women in Radiology (AAW). She has served in several leadership roles with the AAWR since creating the branch at the UW and also served as a past resident. Her leadership was vital to create a network for women trainees and faculty, which continues to this day. Following Dr. Anzai’s transition to the University of Utah, Dr. Tess Chapman, the former program director for the UW Radiology Residency, served as Director of our Women in Radiology chapter. The group is now led by 2 resident radiologists: Dr. Pegah Khoshpouri and Dr. Alice Shieh.
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| Pegah Khoshpouri, M.D. Resident Representative, Women in Radiology UW Chapter |
Alice Shieh, M.D. |
UW Radiology Diversity Visiting Student Program
The Diversity Visiting Student Program is a funded initiative designed to give medical students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to experience the outstanding training that is available in the Department of Radiology at the University of Washington and to experience life in Seattle, a thriving, dynamic, beautiful city with mild, dry, sunny summers. Click here to learn more.
For the 2022-2023 academic year, we are offering this opportunity three times.
Thanks to the Trainee Endowment Funds, we are able to offer a $2500 living stipend for each participant.