Covid-19 shined a bright light on disparate access to information and health care for marginalized communities. University of Utah Physician Assistant Wagma Mohmand and Utah Muslim Civic League’s Luna Banuri share how they are building on trust to vaccinate and support Utah’s Muslims through the pandemic.

There’s a better way to respond to colleagues who share experiences about discrimination in society or the workplace. Preston Dahlgren, senior nursing director, relies on his master’s degree in marriage and family therapy to address the importance of validating emotions during hard conversations.

Michael Danielson, organizational development consultant, shares a personal experience about privilege, respect, and friendship. When his comfortable cultural norms failed him and led to a regrettable interaction, he learned that respect is demonstrated by taking action, and that you have to step out of your comfort zone to change culture.

U of U Health recently received the LGBTQ Health Care Equality Top Performer designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation—but this achievement didn’t happen overnight. Plastic surgeon and Transgender Health Program Director Cori Agarwal, and Program Coordinator Ariel Malan, share the grit, determination and patient collaboration that transformed our health care system.

Varsha Iyer is an inpatient child and adolescent psychiatrist at Utah’s University Neuropsychiatric Institute. Here she shares both individual and institutional advice on dealing with the chronic stress of racism and the acute stress of COVID-19 to lead the way for positive, enduring change.