Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Dermatology faculty and residents meet on a quarterly basis to discuss books, documentaries, journal articles, and other materials on racism, medicine, and dermatology, such as:

• Chan et al, "Assessing the role of race in quantitative measures of skin pigmentation and clinical assessments of photosensitivity", JAAD 2005
• Ware et al, "Racial Limitations of Fitzpatrick Skin Type", Cutis 2020
• The following selected sections from Taylor, "Skin of color: Biology, structure, function, and implications for dermatologic disease", JAAD 2002 
• Chapter 17 from the book "The Making Asian America" by Erika Lee
• Still Processing Podcast: "Asian Americans Talk about Racism, and We Listen - Part 1" 
• "Caste: The Origins of our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson
• “Acres of Skin: Medical Abuse Behind Bars" by Allen Hornblum
• "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates 
• “Am I a Racist?” by David N. Korones, MD, NEJM 2020 
• "How to be An Anti-Racist" by Ibram X. Kendi

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven throughout the resident didactic curriculum. Each year, our faculty give lectures on the state of diversity in dermatology, and the importance of diversity in dermatology paired with implicit bias testing. While we have specialized lectures on various aspects of DEI, frequent content review for opportunities to be more inclusive, regardless of lecture topic, is prioritized. In addition to the talks given by our faculty, we also regularly invite experts from other departments within Michigan Medicine to speak on subjects such as transgender patient care, and skin findings in child abuse. Furthermore, multiple visiting professors are invited each year to speak on their areas of expertise in DEI and dermatology. Talks have ranged from disparities outcomes in dermatologic surgery, to innovative treatment of hair disorders, to dermatologic treatment of patients with disabilities.

Annually, the department invites a leading dermatologist to provide the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture to clinical faculty, house officers and medical students addressing topics of health equity in dermatology, skin of color, and/or additional DEI work in honor of the life and work of Dr. King.

Recent MLK Visiting Professors:

• 2023 - Ginette Okeye, MD, Professor and Chair of Dermatology, Howard University College of Medicine: "URM Faculty" and "Follicular Disorders in Men" 
• 2022 - Jenna C. Lester, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine: "Beyond the Diagnosis"
• 2021 - Susan C. Taylor, MD, Sandra J. Lazarus Associate Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine: “How to Approach Hair and Scalp Disorders in Skin of Color Patients” & “Research: A Tool for Mentorship and Sponsorship of UIM Medical Students”
• 2020 - Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California: “Diversity in Dermatology: Our Past, Present, and Future”
• 2019 - Sandy Tsao, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School: “Fifty Shades of Brown – Science, Symptoms and Strategies for Acquired Pigmented Disorders”
• 2018 - Amy McMichael, MD, Professor and Chair of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine: “Updates in Hair Loss”
• 2017 - Luis Diaz, MD, C.E. Wheeler Jr. Distinguished Professor, University of North Carolina School of Medicine: “Milestones in Bullous Pemphigoid”

Michigan Medicine Dermatology faculty, residents and medical students provide volunteer dermatologic care for the U-M Migrant Farm Workers Clinic, participating in mobile clinics at a rotating group of local farms where migrant farm workers are housed, providing dermatology specialty care to individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. 

The department hosts quarterly a free dermatology clinic to provide dermatology specialty care to individuals who are uninsured or underinsured and are referred by the local Hope Clinic. This clinic is fully volunteer-run by our clinical staff, faculty, residents and medical students.

Visiting medical students participate in health equity and inclusion activities through the MM Office of Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI). Students also receive a stipend to support their away rotation.

More information about our Health Equity Visiting Clerkship can be found on our Visiting Medical Students page.

Through our Pipeline Program, preclinical underrepresented-in-medicine (URM)* medical students at the University of Michigan are paired with a dermatology house officer, who serves as an advisor and guide. A visiting professor is invited annually through the Pipeline Program, to provide a lecture and meet with Pipeline students. In addition, students participate in a clinical skills and procedural skills workshop, physician shadowing, social and networking events.

The Dermatology DEI Pipeline program provides early mentorship to URM first and second year UMMS medical students who may be interested or just curious in dermatology. 

This program provides mentorship, hands-on teaching with suturing skills workshops and clinic exposure, invited guest lectures, networking opportunities, and research opportunities. This resident-led program pairs dermatology residents of all years and faculty with pre-clinical medical students. 

*University of Michigan Definition of Underrepresented in Medicine:

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)^ defines the term underrepresented in medicine as “racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population”, African Americans and/or Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians), Pacific Islander, and mainland Puerto Rican are the racial and ethnic groups classified as URM by this definition.

In addition to AAMC’s URM classifications, University of Michigan definition also includes Arab American/Middle Eastern individuals and extends beyond race and ethnicity to include LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals with disabilities and First in Family  individuals.

Underrepresented in Medicine Definition | AAMC

The department participates in multiple outreach programs and events, supported by the department, UMMS Doctors of Tomorrow and OHEI. These efforts expose URIM middle school and high school students to careers in medicine and foster early interest in medicine among students, providing them with the skillset and guidance needed to help them pursue this path. 

The Doctors of Tomorrow Pipeline program is a University of Michigan Medical School Pipeline program that introduces medicine and the sciences as well as college and medical school readiness for 9th graders up through undergraduate students from local Detroit high schools and the University of Michigan. Dermatology residents can volunteer to provide mentorship at all stages, and our department provides core lectures for all student groups ranging from 9th graders to college students.

A 10-month certificate program designed to further develop house officers into leaders and change agents for healthcare equity. 

Learn more about the HEQSP.

This annual event promotes the development of leadership skills in medical students interested in health equity, diversity, and inclusion work. This event is generally held in August.

Learn more about the Health Equity Leadership Program.

This annual event is focused on educating and informing prospective House Officers, who interviewed at MM, about MMs commitment to health justice and individual departments’ DEI and Community Engagement efforts. This event is generally held in January or February.

Learn more about the MM Second Look Event.

Michigan Medicine departments along with the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion participate in SiMfest, a daylong event that includes information sessions and clinical simulations for medical or pre-med students. This event is held annually in the spring.

Learn more about SiMFest at SNMA national meeting.

This event aims to engage middle school students from schools across SE Michigan with diverse Michigan Medicine healthcare teams, and provides opportunities for students who are under-represented in the health sciences to visit our campus and engage with practitioners through hands-on simulations, personal connections, and curated resources in preparation for medical career paths. This event will happen annually in the spring.

Learn more about the inaugural Youth Summit at the Big House.

Michigan Health Sciences Summer Institute (MHSSI) is comprised of three academies that expose learners to health sciences careers and health disparities; foster leadership development; enhance academic skills; and prepare them for admission to medical school. This program runs annually in the summer.

Learn more about the MHSSI.

Partnering with the Department of Dermatology, U-M Library Staff created and maintain a library guide to serve as a resource for teaching, learning, research, and clinical practicee related to skin of color in dermatology (https://guides.lib.umich.edu/skinofcolor).

The Office for Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI) develops mechanisms for inclusion, diversity and cultural sensitivity among faculty, students and staff at Michigan Medicine. OHEI advances clinical care for under-served patient populations through research and education.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) leads and supports university-wide initiatives focused on the recruitment of a diverse faculty, staff and student body, while fostering an inclusive and equitable community at the University of Michigan. ODEI also engages surrounding communities in mission-focused, mutually beneficial partnerships. The vision of the office is to envision a diverse University where all thrive and excel.