Committed to Inclusion
The UConn School of Pharmacy will be a leader in education, research, and service committed to delivering a transformative academic and professional experience to students, faculty, and staff in a diverse and inclusive environment that is focused on improving the health of all communities.
The School of Pharmacy values diversity and inclusion of students, faculty, and staff. We strive to provide a supportive environment where all members can have a voice and feel represented in the profession regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, class, age, or other identifying characteristic. Our program prepares students to address the unique healthcare needs of diverse, underserved patient populations by establishing a foundation in public health and cultural competency. Through this awareness, the School of Pharmacy further aims to model a commitment towards inclusive healthcare practice.
Follow us on Instagram: @UConnPharmDEI
Initiatives and Opportunities
Diversity Committee
One or more students from each class is selected to serve on this committee composed of students, staff and faculty members with the charge of enhancing diversity in the professional pharmacy program. Previous Diversity Committee initiatives have included volunteering with KUBE (Kids and UConn Bridging Education), coordinating Lunch and Learn talks on topics of diversity and public health, organizing School of Pharmacy diversity awards, and hosting sensitivity training for UConn Metanoia. Interested students should contact advisor Dr. Chinenye Anyanwu at chinenye.anyanwu@uconn.edu.
Urban Service Track
The Urban Service Track (UST) is an interprofessional education (IPE) program that unites 6 health profession schools, 4 campuses, 2 universities, and multiple community organizations and clinicians. The main goal of this unique curricular track is to develop a group of health care professionals dedicated to caring for urban, underserved populations and who are committed to interprofessional teamwork. UST Scholars and faculty provide community outreach to 4,000-5,000 of Connecticut’s neediest citizens each year. The UST program also places strong emphasis on public health and primary care as a career pathway. The core values of UST are Urban, Underserved, Interprofessionalism, and Primary Care.
Anti-Racism Resources from Concerned Student Pharmacists
Resources compiled by the pharmacy students listed with each document:
Resources on Anti-Racism, Systemic Racism, and Diversity for Pharmacy Students
Information compiled by pharmacy students: Melanie Groof (UConn '23), Isabella Hernandez (UConn '23), Amanda Idusuyi (UConn '23), and Hannah McCarthy (UConn '23).
Sourcing Anti-Racism Organizations
Document information compiled by pharmacy student Lava Kareem (UConn '21).
DEI and Anti-Racism from Professional Pharmacy Organizations
WEBSITES
NPhA Anti-Racism Resource page
https://nationalpharmaceuticalassociation.org/Anti-Racism-Resources
Cycle of Socialization
https://nationalpharmaceuticalassociation.org/resources/Documents/Cycle_ofSocializationHandout.pdf
AACP
AACP Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
https://www.aacp.org/article/equity-diversity-and-inclusion-edi-initiatives
https://www.ajpe.org/content/86/5/8690
- Article about Engaging in Authentic Allyship
ASHP Diversity Resource Guide https://www.ashp.org/-/media/assets/professional-development/residencies/docs/examples/diversity-resource-guide.pdf
Equality, diversity and inclusion | General Pharmaceutical Council
- Consist of many articles and case studies
- Mentions about equality, diversity and inclusion
The Urban Institute’s Do No Harm Guide
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2021/06/08/do-no-harm-guide-recommendations.pdf
- DEI recommendations in data visualization
- Gives thoughtful questions and bullet points for users to mull over
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2021/06/08/do-no-harm-guide-checklist.pdf
- Checklist for data visualization, references racial equity
- Clean, easy to read, straightforward
UConn Rainbow Center LGBTQIA+ Dictionary
https://rainbowcenter.uconn.edu/lgbtqia-dictionary/
Creating Inclusive Classrooms (UConn Rainbow Center):
https://rainbowcenter.uconn.edu/creating-inclusive-classrooms/
ACCP DEIA Toolkit
VIDEOS
APhA town hall task force videos - https://www.pharmacist.com/Advocacy/Pharmacists-Fighting-Racism
- Listing of task force members
- Publications
- How to engage and connect with them
Dr. Camara Jones Explains the Cliff of Good Health
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to7Yrl50iHI
- “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
- To keep everyone safe we need to move everyone away from the fence and cliff side
- This is done by addressing the SDOH
SHF SDOH Video (UConn pharmacy students video)
How to Resolve Racially Stressful Situations | Howard C. Stevenson Ted Talk
- “When we are unprepared, we overreact”
- Racial Socialization
- Racial literacy: Ability to read, recast and resolve a racially stressful encounter
PODCASTS
https://www.aapf.org/intersectionality-matters
https://open.spotify.com/show/5CEVNLkyQ1kAx2MTSJZJLP?si=_7frV-LQT0S9a9JD9KCudw
- with Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term intersectional and intersectional theory
Docs with Disabilities https://www.docswithdisabilities.org/podcast
Code Switch
https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV
- It tackles the subject of race with empathy and humor which can make it more desirable to listeners
- It is easily accessible with multiple episodes on different topics
BOOKS
Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race (https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/10/10/why-are-all-the-black-kids-sitting-together-in-the-cafeteria) by Beverly Daniel Tatum
- It centers around the conversation of self segregation and inequality in schools
- Encourages starting cross-racial dialogues at a young age
Books / Thesis – Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in the US by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva
Link to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Racism-Without-Racists-audiobook/dp/B073SFKCJ3/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Author is a professor of sociology; very theory based and gets to the core of why these inequities occur
OTHER FORMATS
- Games/cards to be used as tools for difficult conversations
UCONN OFFICE OF DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES
Anti-Racism Resources | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice @UConn
A Statement from President Radenka Maric
Campus Resources
DEI in Pharmacy School
The UConn School of Pharmacy Diversity Committee
Cultural Centers
Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center
African American Cultural Center
Asian American Cultural Center
Native American Cultural Programs
Administrative Offices