Nancy Andrews, MD, PhD, dean of the School of Medicine; Ben Reese, PsyD, vice president of the Office for Institutional Equity for Duke University, and Judy Seidenstein, chief diversity officer for the School of Medicine, hosted a community forum about race today in the Learning Hall of the Trent Semans Center. More than 250 learners, faculty members and staff from the School of Medicine attended the standing room only event and shared their thoughts about race. Many told of personal experiences from their past and more recently that had profoundly affected them.
“We are gathering together as a community today, not because we think we have the answers, but because we believe – and research reinforces – that bringing people together from a broad spectrum of life experiences and perspectives to share, listen and learn can help to expand our individual and collective thinking and understanding of some of our most challenging problems, said Dean Andrews.
“I am proud of our longstanding commitment to diversity and excellence and yet I acknowledge that there is much more work to do to further our mission of achieving a climate of belonging and inclusion for all. I hope our conversation today is one of many that we will have as a community searching together for ways to contribute to a more equitable, inclusive and respectful society.”