About Us
History
With the support of the University of Pittsburgh's senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and the deans of the Schools of the Health Sciences, The Sullivan Commission Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Diversity for the Schools of the Health Sciences was formed in late 2004.
The task force's objective was to examine the barriers that prohibit the successful inclusion of underrepresented minorities in our schools. The task force conducted an inventory of current initiatives to address diversity in our schools, held focused discussions with key stakeholders, and actively explored promising partnerships to accomplish our goals. The assessment included interviews and discussions with minority faculty members of the health sciences schools, UPMC administrators, and key administrators from the broader campus. In addition, it examined our student application and admissions processes; the support services provided to students, faculty, and staff; and the participation of underrepresented faculty on search and admissions committees. As a result of the findings, the task force identified strategic directions for increasing diversity in our schools.
The Office of Health Sciences Diversity (OHSD) was established October 2007 (opened January 2008) with the following goals:
- Assist departments within the schools of the health sciences to seek qualified, diverse candidates for academic opportunities
- Assess internal and external pipelines to graduate and health professions education and build programming to bridge any existing gaps
- Connect individuals at all points of the pipeline to role models, mentors, and opportunities within the Health Sciences schools by partnering with existing organizations and programs or assisting in the planning and implementation of new programming
- Assist schools to secure campus and extramural funding for programs and initiatives advancing faculty and student diversity
- Create and monitor systems of evaluation that measure success for diversity and inclusion, including overall faculty, resident, fellow, and student success within the University of Pittsburgh's health science schools more >
