VP&S Department of Medicine Launches Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Community Series
The Department of Medicine’s Office of Faculty Development, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons has launched a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series to showcase, celebrate, and center the local communities. The inaugural event, “Connecting with Our Community Through Cultural Arts and Thoughtful Conversations on Food Insecurity," took place Sept. 22.
![member of a panel discussion sitting on stage](https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_7.jpg?itok=8XEYCMA3 200w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_7.jpg?itok=Rvv1XOo9 260w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_7.jpg?itok=GQAKM2mW 320w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_7.jpg?itok=fpm99ZxC 400w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_7.jpg?itok=k2lpldcp 520w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_7.jpg?itok=tcCNDGZk 640w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_7.jpg?itok=8ys5b5Xm 800w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_7.jpg?itok=7i6Kbwlh 1040w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_7.jpg?itok=vRo9USAp 1280w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_7.jpg?itok=HiO76mhJ 1600w)
The inaugural event in a community series launched by the Department of Medicine Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative included a panel discussion on food insecurity in the Black and Latino communities. From left: Zoe Bogan, Christopher Irobunda, Jenique Jones, Larry Scott Blackmon, and Delivette Castor. Photo: Columbia University Department of Medicine.
The series is part of the department’s larger DEI initiative, established in November 2020. “Our long-term goal is for our biomedical research, patient care, and medical education to be rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion,” says Christopher Irobunda, MD, PhD, the Jim Ovia Associate Professor of Cardiology and vice chair for faculty development, diversity, equity & inclusion, who heads the initiative. “And through these events, we are working toward making the community’s concerns an integral part of the systems and structure of Columbia.”
The inaugural event began with a panel discussion on food insecurity in the Black and Latino communities and ways to solve it. The discussion, moderated by Zoe Bogan, executive director of the National Black Empowerment Council, featured Irobunda; Delivette Castor, PhD, assistant professor of medical sciences; Larry Scott Blackmon, vice president of public affairs at Fresh Direct; and Jenique Jones, vice president of program operations & policy at City Harvest.
The discussion was followed by the premiere of a new short film, “Babalú Ayé y La Negra del Hospital,” by Yelaine Rodriguez. The film provides a voice to a Black woman who founded a healing establishment in the Dominican Republic before the Spanish began construction in 1503 of the Hospital San Nicolás de Bari in Santo Domingo, recognized by UNESCO as the first hospital in the Americas. Although she influenced the construction of the hospital on her site, her name and story are silenced within the colonial archives, where she is known only as “La Negra del Hospital.” The screening was accompanied by live traditional Dominican sacred Palo drumming. Jhensen Ortiz, librarian at CUNY’s Dominican Students Institute, led a discussion about the film.
The event was also attended by Glory Van Scott, PhD, donor of the Department of Medicine's DEI initiative.
Scroll down for more photos:
![person speaking in front of a room full of people](https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_auditoriumview_5.jpg?itok=gLCiHD3a 200w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_auditoriumview_5.jpg?itok=WJGagv_5 260w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_auditoriumview_5.jpg?itok=UI8H339Q 320w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_auditoriumview_5.jpg?itok=hZmTsBGn 400w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_auditoriumview_5.jpg?itok=FVGMkoSK 520w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_auditoriumview_5.jpg?itok=upAXMZ9O 640w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_auditoriumview_5.jpg?itok=k-UTRyha 800w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_auditoriumview_5.jpg?itok=FWn1vMmf 1040w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_auditoriumview_5.jpg?itok=h63-xB99 1280w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_auditoriumview_5.jpg?itok=Q7hL_Wsj 1600w)
Christopher Irobunda delivers welcoming remarks.
![group of people looking at the camera](https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphotowithvanscott_11.jpg?itok=0A6OGRD9 200w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphotowithvanscott_11.jpg?itok=TPTYwdaH 260w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphotowithvanscott_11.jpg?itok=PAbgMINM 320w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphotowithvanscott_11.jpg?itok=rxCvB-sv 400w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphotowithvanscott_11.jpg?itok=FsKE5ALk 520w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphotowithvanscott_11.jpg?itok=qZHp543j 640w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphotowithvanscott_11.jpg?itok=8MxvRmR1 800w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphotowithvanscott_11.jpg?itok=q4Jx9UOn 1040w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphotowithvanscott_11.jpg?itok=RrwRFqDA 1280w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphotowithvanscott_11.jpg?itok=f5QHHW1c 1600w)
From left: Gladys Bueso, Johanny Collado, Christopher Irobunda, Glory Van Scott, Mayra Marte-Miraz, Judith Morel-Pointer, and Lina Maria Alfonso.
![drummers performing](https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_13_drummers.jpg?itok=NU25xFYG 200w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_13_drummers.jpg?itok=KlzmFP1r 260w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_13_drummers.jpg?itok=DmAJxuRH 320w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_13_drummers.jpg?itok=XgXg9F1d 400w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_13_drummers.jpg?itok=cn-jpevN 520w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_13_drummers.jpg?itok=GR0Vw7yx 640w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_13_drummers.jpg?itok=C_mPythy 800w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_13_drummers.jpg?itok=TYJ6U8oK 1040w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_13_drummers.jpg?itok=qy9DTiDd 1280w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_13_drummers.jpg?itok=e1jRsdGz 1570w)
Kaila Paulino, left, leading musicians in traditional Dominican sacred drumming.
![group of people looking at the camera](https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphoto_9.jpg?itok=1uc7R8xD 200w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphoto_9.jpg?itok=uBCKb9ua 260w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphoto_9.jpg?itok=2gG3jhWa 320w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphoto_9.jpg?itok=G2c7Imqn 400w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphoto_9.jpg?itok=N0q09sSB 520w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphoto_9.jpg?itok=gwWX8jql 640w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphoto_9.jpg?itok=goEG7lH7 800w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphoto_9.jpg?itok=K49p1iTW 1040w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphoto_9.jpg?itok=G5au5gzn 1280w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2022-10/medicine_dei_communityevent_sept2022_groupphoto_9.jpg?itok=B4KFKHWC 1600w)
Event organizers, from left: Cyrus Amir Boquín, Maria Hamm de Miguel, Johanny Collado, Judith Morel-Pointer, Gladys Bueso, Reggie Canal, Mayra Marte-Miraz, Christopher Irobunda, Zoe Bogan, and Lina Maria Alfonso