Fostering Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Health Care Education

Faculty, Chair | Pharmacotherapy | WSU Spokane

I think it is important to make learning equitable, to foster diversity, and to create a community that is inclusive. All my life I have felt stuck between two worlds. Growing up Hispanic in a community where it wasn’t okay to be different, I tried so hard to hide this Chicano piece of me. Then I found myself in this spot where I was “too white” for my Hispanic peers, but still “too brown” for those that were white. I am still trying to figure that out, but what I have learned for certain is that my Hispanic culture has made me who I am! And I embracing that pride and gratitude as I learn more about DEI and about myself.

Faculty, Member | Pharmaceutical Sciences | WSU Spokane

Embracing diversity not only adds beauty but also cultivates creativity, intelligence, and a sense of wholeness within us. Growing up in a small village in India, I had limited exposure to diversity until I entered college. The transition from a small, homogenous community to a diverse, urban setting enlightened me about the significance of embracing diversity to uplift individuals and entire societies. My decision to pursue academia as a career is deeply rooted in my aspiration to positively impact the lives and careers of my students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. My research specifically focuses on ensuring drug safety in underrepresented populations. Drugs are often not adequately tested in certain demographic groups, such as children and pregnant women. This lack of testing predisposes these populations to drug toxicity.

Faculty, Member | Pharmacotherapy | WSU Yakima

I grew up in western Montana and have really come to value the cultural and racial diversity that is so different from the environment in which I was raised. I am grateful to be able to represent the students, faculty, and staff of the beautiful and unique Yakima Valley. I push myself to learn from every student and community member that I interact with and to gain new perspectives from those with different lived experiences than myself. I feel that this experience makes me a better professor, a better mom, and all around a better human being. I find working on the WSU CPPS DEI committee to be both a humbling and uplifting experience and look forward to improving not only myself through this work but to improving the experience of all the students, faculty, and staff at WSU.

Faculty, Member | Pharmaceutical Sciences | WSU Spokane

A few years ago, I was asked by the Dean if I’d be interested in serving as a member of our college’s new DEI committee and I said yes. I wanted to take this opportunity to learn more about DEI and to help achieve our goal of creating a more just and equitable learning community that fosters open and honest dialogue with people from different backgrounds.

Staff, Member | Student Services | WSU Spokane

I have a variety of experiences and accomplishments that contribute to my passion towards diversity, equity, and inclusion. My social work background combined with all the countries I have lived/worked in provides a broad scope of understanding cultural disparities our students face. I strive to find and implement strategies to solve social problems by creating equitable opportunities for all. I continually attend trainings and workshops to learn firsthand what people are experiencing, to expand my knowledge and continue the path of a lifelong learner. I take pride in applying the knowledge I learn by educating others through a multitude of workshops I have hosted on refugee and immigrants in the greater Spokane area. I am dedicated to teaching English to non-native English speakers. Through my journey, I’ve realized there is a special place in my heart for social justice issues. I am committed to advancing the work of the DEI team and its mission.

Staff, Member | Experiential Services | WSU Spokane

I spent some of my formative years growing up abroad, gaining different cultural exposures early on and deeming me a “third culture kid.” I have been fortunate to have had many opportunities to travel abroad in addition to my time living in Indonesia and Morocco. These various experiences interacting with people from all walks of life fostered within me a deep appreciation of diversity in all its forms. My joy of learning about others and contributing to communities lead me to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, during this time my passion for supporting access to education for all individuals was solidified. As a life-long learner I have a strong interest in continuing to grow my knowledge regarding diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for all, allyship and to humbly contribute where I can.

Student, Member | PharmD | WSU Spokane

I’m a second-year student pharmacist and originally from the west side, specifically Tacoma, Washington. I’m a proud Filipino American and bisexual woman and am passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, which is why I joined the committee. I grew up in a community where I have friends from different cultural backgrounds and grew up in an underserved community. Having the experiences and background of living with a diverse community allows me to give back and offer my perspectives to create a more inclusive space for all. In my free time, I like to go back home as often as I can and hang out with my dog Oliver/Ollie.

Student, Member | PhD | WSU Spokane

I am a strong supporter of fostering an inclusive and diverse culture. Being born and brought up in India, I learned to embrace the cultural diversity at a very young age. Thereafter, my move to Singapore and then to United States was filled with challenges. However, I was privileged to work with people who were extremely inclusive and believed in equitable learning. This made the transition easier for me and has been very instrumental in making me appreciate diversity while helping to create an inclusive and equitable community.