Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Mount Sinai Health System is ranked #5 in 2022 by DiversityInc among Top Hospitals and Health Systems. In addition, seven of our health system hospitals have been recognized as leaders in LGBTQ health care equality by the Human Rights Campaign.
At The Mount Sinai Hospital, we value everyone’s unique experiences and welcome residents from underrepresented backgrounds. Our hospital serves residents of East Harlem, a neighborhood historically made up of a large immigrant population and residents with limited access to healthcare.
Accordingly, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is committed to recruiting a diverse house staff. In conjunction with the Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs, we offer the Visiting Electives Programs for Students Underrepresented in Medicine (VEPSUM) elective to visiting fourth-year medical students. VEPSUM is designed to increase diversity in house staff and faculty.
The Department of Medicine sponsors Unconscious Bias and Undoing Racism Workshops for residents, faculty and staff. Additionally, as part of our noon conference schedule, we offer a series on underserved populations in healthcare, including lectures on health disparities in cardiovascular disease, LGBTQ health, transgender medicine and gender affirming surgery, and masculinizing and feminizing hormonal therapy amongst others.
An Underrepresented in Medicine House Staff Interest Group was recently formed with focused mentorship, Wellness/Burnout sessions relevant to URiM trainees and social networking events undertaken.
Department of Medicine Diversity Council
Led by Dr. Mirna Mohanraj, Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, our Department of Medicine Diversity Council comprises residents, faculty, and administrators dedicated to improving equity, diversity and inclusion over all Medicine Departments in the Mount Sinai Health System. Responsibilities include reviewing policies, procedures, and informal practices across the department that impact the DEI mission. Members collect and analyze demographic and qualitative data to assess departmental performance in comparison to its peers and provide oversight and evaluation of educational programming.
“My main priorities when looking for a program back then included an institution with great science and with great community – and I felt Sinai fit those for me." -Fiona Desland, MD, PhD, Chief Resident
"Being a chief resident puts me in a unique position to try to effect change in terms of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). So far, it means that I can use my platform and voice to try to promote these values among current and future residents in the program, and faculty." - Robyn Jordan, MD, MPH; - Recent Graduate, Former Chief Resident