Quoteworthy
Paying attention to the traumatic experiences endured by our underrepresented colleagues helps us practice kindness, compassion, and empathy with one another.
Mauricio "Mo" Laguan, Jean Whitlock and Megan Call

Most Recent
Assisting New Americans Through VR Technology

Learning how to navigate school, healthcare and more as they settle into Utah can be difficult for new Americans. Assistant Professor Milad Mozari from the division of Multi-Disciplinary Design (MDD) at the U’s College of Architecture and Planning, has been working to use virtual reality technology to support the resettlement process of Utah’s newcomers.

The BIPOC Check-in and Support Group

Well-being specialist Trinh Mai started BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of color) Check-in & Support via Zoom as a place to grieve and honor George Floyd and process ongoing racism. This is a space for employees at the U who self-identify as BIPOC to experience community, share struggles and solutions, and celebrate being who they are. Trinh and some members of the check in group share how the group started, how it has evolved and its lasting impacts.

Choosing Love Over Hate

Whether it was growing up in segregated Georgia, working with leaders across the country during the civil rights movement, leading a congregation at Calvary Baptist Church, or teaching an ethnic studies class at the U, Reverend France A. Davis has lived the theme of “Choosing Love Over Hate.” With the U of U Marriott Library, he shares his experiences and discusses “choosing love” in navigating today’s challenges.

Responding with Kindness: Racial and Minority Trauma

Rising racist aggressions against the backdrop of an anxious and unnerving year can exacerbate the trauma racial groups and minorities experience. Megan Call of the Resiliency Center, social worker Jean Whitlock and EDI expert Mauricio Laguan explain racial trauma and how kindness, to ourselves and each other, is what this moment demands.

How to Respond with Compassion when Someone is Hurt by Racism

Racism isn’t something that happens “somewhere else.” Mindfulness educators and social workers Trinh Mai and Jean Whitlock facilitated an interracial dialogue on talking about race and racism to learn from local lived experiences. Here they share a scenario reflecting common dynamics and give recommendations for a compassionate and constructive response.

Be Mindful and Educate Yourself: Black Patient Voices

The crises of Covid-19 and police brutality have highlighted systemic racial inequity in the United States and the need to consciously dismantle the forces that cause racial health disparities. PA students Scarlett Reyes and Jocelyn Cortez brought together Black patients at the University of Utah to share their experiences. Their advice: build cultural competence and be mindful of microaggressions.

A People-First Approach to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Chief Human Resources Officer Sarah Sherer shares how Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources is working to integrate a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion at the individual, team and system-level.

How to Honor and Celebrate Juneteenth in Utah

Join the University of Utah community as we celebrate and honor Juneteenth. Here are a list of Juneteenth celebrations and events on campus and in the surrounding community, as well as suggested readings and resources.

MLK Week at the U: Becoming the Beloved Community

Join the University of Utah community as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy. Here are suggested readings, resources, events and conversations throughout the week that honor Dr. King’s vision, offer direction, and challenge us to determine a better way forward.

"We're Seeing Change" – Improving Diversity and Inclusion Efforts, Part 2

M.ED host Kerry Whittemore interviews José E. Rodríguez, Associate Vice President for Office of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, to discuss the positive changes made and efforts underway to increase diversity in the medical field.

"We Have to Be Strategic" – Improving Diversity and Inclusion Efforts, Part 1

M.ED host Kerry Whittemore interviews José E. Rodríguez, Associate Vice President for Office of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, to discuss how to increase diversity and pipeline programming in the medical field.

Commit to Confronting the Microaggressions That Are Affecting Your Learners

Microaggressions commonly occur in medical settings creating psychologically unsafe environments of learning, working, and healing. Pediatricians Reena Tam and Margie Diaz-Ochu share how clinician-educators can cultivate awareness and practical tools to create safer, braver spaces in the moment.