Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement
Within Addiction Medicine, and specifically within the Tulane Addiction Medicine Fellowship housed in the Tulane Department of Psychiatry, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every student, educator, and staff member feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our mission is to provide an equitable learning experience that celebrates diversity and respects the unique perspectives and contributions of each individual.
Our Commitments:
- Equity: We strive to create fair access to resources, opportunities, and support for all members of our community. We recognize and address barriers that have historically marginalized groups and commit to policies that promote a just and equitable environment.
- Diversity: We celebrate the diverse backgrounds, identities, and perspectives that enrich our community. We believe that diversity enhances our learning environment, preparing students to succeed in a global and multicultural society.
- Inclusion: We aim to cultivate a sense of belonging where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. Our programs and practices are designed to actively include and engage all voices and to address disparities in representation and involvement.
Our Goals:
- Education & Awareness: We prioritize learning opportunities that raise awareness of EDI issues, including workshops, seminars, and curricula that reflect diverse perspectives.
- Cultural Competence: We are dedicated to equipping our educators and staff with the tools and knowledge needed to create an inclusive classroom experience that acknowledges and values all backgrounds.
- Community Engagement: We collaborate with students, parents, and community members to ensure that our initiatives reflect the needs and aspirations of our diverse community.
- Accountability & Transparency: We actively monitor, assess, and report on our progress toward EDI goals, seeking feedback to continuously improve and uphold our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
At Tulane, we believe that everyone has the right to an educational experience free from discrimination and prejudice. We are committed to cultivating an environment that empowers everyone to achieve their full potential.
Departmental EDI Initiatives
The Tulane Department of Psychiatry, the home of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship, strives to foster a learning environment in which trainees, staff and faculty can learn and grow in conversation and collaboration with each other. We aim to embed discussions about social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) into every aspect of our program, including clinical care, supervision, didactics, and research. Several initiatives have been implemented within the department to address JEDI issues and aid in the growth and development of its members (see graphic below). All trainees, staff and faculty are welcome to participate. These include:
- Faculty Diversity Committee – Open to interested faculty members, Department-wide (ongoing, meets monthly)
- Diversity Informed Tenets for Work with Infants, Children & Families discussions –open to all faculty, staff, and trainees, Department-wide (held on four Fridays in the summer)
- Multiculturalism Class for Trainees – mandatory for all psychology and child psychiatry trainees (meets Fridays from September-December facilitated by child section faculty)
- Social Justice Action Groups – Open to all interested faculty, staff and trainees; members of the Diversity Committee serve as coordinators
- Film Club (meets monthly)
- Book Club (meets every other month)
- Advocacy, Consumerism and Community Engagement (ACCE) group – contributes content for the monthly EDI newsletter, including information about a particular group or cause, community events, businesses to support in the local community, and ways to get involved
- Film Club (meets monthly)
*Books, films and topics of discussion are generated by the members of those groups.
EDI Steering Committee – Tasked with the goal of developing a five-year strategic plan, which includes supporting the provision of culturally-humble clinical services, generating research with an intentional focus on issues of diversity, enhancing culturally-sensitive interactions among faculty, staff and trainees, and creating a culturally-attuned environment that is welcoming and affirming of individuals with different intersecting identities. Four subcommittees were created. See the Department of Psychiatry website for more information on these committees.
https://medicine.tulane.edu/psychiatry/equity-diversity-inclusion-initiatives
