[wpseo_breadcrumb]
MODULE 5 - DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are part of Rocky Vista University's nine core values: "An awareness of the dignity of all, regardless of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability, socioeconomic status, or individual life experiences."
RVU Core Values
Collegiality
Mutual respect, collaboration, and the open exchange of ideas advance mutual goals and facilitate individual growth.
Compassion
The willingness to be engaged with the needs of others.
Diversity
The recognition, reflection, and representation of individual differences within a community including, but not limited to culture, race, age, ethnicity or national origin, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, spiritual practices, political beliefs, mental and physical ability, socioeconomic status, individual life experiences, or other ideologies.
Equity
The implementation of unbiased policies and practices to ensure everyone has access to opportunities along with needs-based distribution of resources to obtain positive outcomes so that all individuals and groups may attain their full potential and no one is deprived regardless of identity, abilities, background, or socially determined circumstances.
Excellence
The commitment to exceed expectations in education.
Inclusivity
The dynamic process of creating a welcoming environment that increases awareness, knowledge, and empathetic understanding to enable individuals with diverse backgrounds, abilities, insights, and experiences to interact in an open, fair, respectful, equitable, and collaborative fashion.
Innovation
Delivering new and creative ways to provide healthcare education while consistently demonstrating compassion, integrity, and excellence.
Integrity
The quality of living a unified life in which one's convictions are well-considered and match one's actions, demonstrating fairness, honesty, sincerity, professionalism, and a consistent commitment to our mission, vision, and values.
Service
Please watch the videos below and reflect on the accompanying questions.
Why Your Doctor Should Care About Social Justice:
- What does it mean for you as a healthcare provider to "sound the alarm" regarding health issues impacting diverse and marginalized communities?
- As a future healthcare professional, how could you help bring awareness to the impact of institutionalized racism in the medical field?
How Doctors' Racial Biases Can Harm Black Patients:
- What are two things you learned about yourself after watching the video?
- How do doctor's racial biases of Black patients regarding the handling of pain hurt their patients?
- Are you aware of other biases that exist in healthcare services for other communities, such as LGBTQ+, Latinx, Asian/Asian American, Women, People with Disabilities, Religious communities, and other cultural groups?
Peanut Butter, Jelly, and Racism:
- What are two things you learned about implicit biases after watching the video?
- How can understanding your implicit biases help you grow, both presently and in the future, as a healthcare professional?
Check Our Bias to Wreck Our Bias:
- As a future healthcare professional, why is it important for you to check your bias?
- How can you keep your biases in check throughout your career?
Privilege Aptitude Test:
Watch the video to the left, then open this Privilege Aptitude Test (PDF) and respond to the questions. Please note that you will not be asked to share your score. This is only for your own use as you consider privilege in society and your own experience. Also, be prepared to discuss the following questions:
- What does privilege mean for you?
- How do you feel about your privilege score?
- How can you use your privilege score positively?
- How can privilege impact your future patients and co-workers?
Final Thoughts | Additional Information
We hope by reviewing this module that you have a better understanding of social justice, bias, privilege, and racism in our society. The questions posed will be part of a larger conversation at RVU, including at Orientation. We all have a responsibility to promote an equitable and inclusive University culture and it starts with ourselves. If you would like to learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion, including your own role as either a minority or an ally, please follow these links:
REFLECTION QUESTION
Answer the following question in the comment section below before moving to the next module:
What could you do this year to contribute to RVU’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity?
Take time to read and engage with your classmates' answers, as well! You can return to this page at any time to carry on the conversation.
What could you do this year to contribute to RVU’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity?To contribute to RVU’s commitment to DEI, I first want to learn more about the programs that RVU has to offer. I always want to be a part of the conversation, I think DEI is swept under the rug a lot of the time and it is a big piece of medicine. This starts as individuals, if you are educated about it then you become more away of it and it gets ignored less. As a first year, I would really just challenge myself to get more involved with it and begin to learn a little more about it.
I believe in being friendly and inclusive with everyone. Most of my deepest friendships and favorite collaborations come from people and personalities that are different from my own.
I can make sure to ask the right questions while making sure that everyone’s point of view is taken into account.
Creating an open and safe environment to have a discussion about DEI. These topics can be difficulty and “awkward” however, if we can open our minds to just listen and have a safe space where these discussions happen I believe that is one way I can contribute to RVU’s commitment to DEI
I can contribute to RVU’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity by reaching out and getting to know many people, especially those who may not come from the same background. I can also be aware of my actions and how they may negatively impact others.
This year, I could educate myself further on how to become a better ally within the DEI space through reading some more in depth literature. I would like to know more about the medical exploitation that happened throughout the history of the United States to better understand the injustice that many were faced with.