Author: Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

SNMA PRESENTS…Black History & The Arts Week 2 (PDF) (Links to an external site)

African American art is infused with African, Caribbean, Afro-Latin, and Black-American lived experiences. In the fields of visual and
performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary,
and other forms of cultural expression, the African American influence has been paramount. African American artists have
used art to preserve history and community
memory as well as for empowerment. Artistic
and cultural movements, such as the New
Negro, Black Arts, Black Renaissance, hiphop, and Afrofuturism, have been led by
people of African descent and set the
standard for popular trends around the world.
In 2024, SNMA examines the varied history
and life of African American arts and artisans
within St. Louis.

SNMA PRESENTS…Black History & The Arts (PDF) (Links to an external site)

African American art is infused with African, Caribbean, Afro-Latin, and Black-American lived experiences. In the fields of visual and
performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary,
and other forms of cultural expression, the African American influence has been paramount. African American artists have
used art to preserve history and community
memory as well as for empowerment. Artistic
and cultural movements, such as the New
Negro, Black Arts, Black Renaissance, hiphop, and Afrofuturism, have been led by
people of African descent and set the
standard for popular trends around the world.
In 2024, SNMA examines the varied history
and life of African American arts and artisans
within St. Louis.

Commemorate Black History Month

This month, WashUMedODEI celebrates Black History Month. Black History Month is significant in the context of medical education as it helps to highlight the contributions and experiences of Black individuals and communities in healthcare. By acknowledging and celebrating Black history, medical institutions can work towards creating a more inclusive and diverse learning environment, where all students feel represented and valued.

Nominate a Colleague for the Drum Major Awards

The Upstander Awards recognize individuals at WashU School of Medicine who embody what it means to be an upstander. Awardees should be those who speak up or act in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being bullied or attacked. Upstanders are people who speak and act against injustices.

High school founded with help of med school leader receives accolades (Links to an external site)

Hamza Jalal (left), a first-year student at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, tours the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience in south St. Louis with his mentor and the high school’s co-founder, Will Ross, MD, the medical school’s associate dean for diversity.

Will Ross co-founded Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience in 2013. A magnet public high school, Collegiate aims to serve high-achieving students, many of whom reside in under-resourced neighborhoods and are interested in pursuing careers in science, medicine and health. In August, Collegiate School was ranked the No. 2 public high school out of 455 schools in Missouri, and No. 150 in the nation.

Healthcare advocate Brenda Battle keynotes HG Phillips Lecture (Links to an external site)

From left, Dr. Will Ross, Dr. Nathaniel Murdoch, and Brenda Battle, following the Homer G. Phillips Public Health Lecture.

Brenda Battle returned to St. Louis to deliver the Homer G. Phillips Public Health Lecture Series keynote address and she offered a stirring message urging the region to reduce its healthcare disparities. The annual event carried the 2023 theme of “Anchoring Communities: A Roadmap to Equity and Transformation in Marginalized Communities.”

ODEI is turning 5: Fifth Year Celebration

The WUSM Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is celebrating five years of existence on our campus! We hope this month can serve as a time to reflect on the impacts our diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting and education have made on our campus.