FCVC faculty, staff energized by ‘Celebration of Humanity’

In late September, the Frankel Cardiovascular Center hosted a center-wide diversity, equity and inclusion event for its faculty and staff.

The “Celebration of Humanity” was the brainchild of the center’s DEI committee and sponsored by the FCVC directors. It served as a daylong event designed to bring faculty and staff together through the arts to celebrate their differences and appreciate their various cultures.

More than 300 FCVC employees attended the festivities, which featured a diverse selection of music, food, performances and activities.

“The recent celebration was an innovative program that showcased the unique talents of our community while celebrating the organization’s diversity,” said David J. Brown, M.D., associate vice president and associate dean for health equity and inclusion. “The positive energy throughout the day was palpable and there was a heartfelt sense that advancing diversity, equity and inclusion will make the FCVC the leading place to work, learn, and receive outstanding care.”

An inspiring day

Kicking off the event in Danto Auditorium was keynote speaker Aaron Dworkin, a U-M professor of arts leadership and entrepreneurship at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, who is also hailed as a social entrepreneur, violinist, philanthropist and author.

Dworkin’s talk took the form of a call to action, challenging attendees to push through cultural disparities and inspiring the energized audience to apply his lesson to the field of medicine.

Frankel CVC DEI chairs Claire Duvernoy, M.D., professor of internal medicine, and Vik Sukumar, chief departmental administrator for neurology, also discussed the committee’s progress during its inaugural year; and Stefanie Peters, chief operating officer of the FCVC, and Chandu Vemuri, M.D., assistant professor of surgery, unveiled the center’s diversity mission statement, which is now featured prominently within the FCVC’s halls.

Later, faculty and staff were encouraged to visit partnering department booths located throughout the FCVC to learn about the diverse services they offer and each department’s DEI initiatives. DEI partners at the event included:

• Gifts of Art

• The Office for Health Equity and Inclusion

• Interpreter Services

• Comprehensive Gender Services Program

• Center for the Education of Women (CEW+)

• Office for Institutional Equity

• Deaf Health Clinic

• Spiritual Care

• The Office of Patient Experience

• Voices of the Staff, Advancing Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion team

Among the activities was an “Art Walk,” which introduced attendees to the diverse art housed within the Cardiovascular Center, a catered cultural food tasting and performances from in-house entertainers.

To learn more about the FCVC DEI steering committee’s efforts — and whether their ideas could be adapted for your area of the organization — click here.

To view photos of the event, check out the photo gallery above or click here and here.