Both the Department of Anesthesiology and William Simmons, MD, Visiting Clinical Associate Professor and Chair of the Advisory Committee on Diversity in the Department of Anesthesiology and co-chair of the UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Physician Inclusion Council recruitment committee, have been participating in many school and hospital-wide diversity related efforts, several of which were recently featured in the news.
A recent Pittsburgh Courier article (PDF, 8MB) showcased the Gateway Medical Society’s (GMS) annual Physician of the Year Gala, held on October 29, 2010. GMS, a component of National Medical Society, has a mission to address underserved minority medical needs, “close the gap” to medical care provided to these communities, and improve the numbers of minority providers. The gala honored nine individuals who have been champions for GMS, as well as the young students who are part of the Journey to Medicine Mentor Program. GMS members mentor these youngsters starting in the sixth grade with the hopes that they will stay on course to become physicians.
WISER and GMS also hosted a Journey to Medicine Program simulation workshop in December, which was featured in a Pittsburgh Tribune Review article.