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Carle Illinois College of Medicine at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Medical School

Mailing Address
506 South Mathews Ave
Urbana, Illinois 61801
Phone
(217) 300-5700
Email address
medicine@illinois.edu
School Information
"Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the world’s first engineering-based medical school, represents a new concept in the field of healthcare education...The college is educating a new generation of physicians trained to develop transformative health care solutions at the intersection of engineering, science, and medicine. Created in 2015 as a partnership between the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Carle Health, Carle Illinois is now home to more than 160 students and 700 affiliated clinical and academic faculty members." "The first Carle Illinois graduating class entered residency in summer 2022, uniquely prepared to make an immediate impact, not only with their exceptional clinical knowledge and patient care skills, but with their talent and passion for leveraging technology and data to improve patient care and outcomes." (Source: https://medicine.illinois.edu/about/overview)

Actions Taken

Admissions Policies
  • The college's 2022-2027 Strategic Plan states that it would "Mitigate entrance barriers for students underrepresented in medicine."
  • On October 13, 2022, the college published its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy which states, "While we celebrate diversity in all its forms, our mission and vision inform a fundamental belief in the importance of recruiting underrepresented groups in medicine (i.e., American Indian and Alaska Native; Black or African American; Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin; and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islander) at all levels including students, residents, faculty, and staff."
  • The college's Research and Education for the Advancement of Compassionate Healthcare program "was developed to grow the presence of students underrepresented in the field of medicine."
Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • The college's 2022-2027 Strategic Plan states that it would "Reduce bias in grading and assessments through improved education of faculty on topics of unconscious bias and microaggressions..."
Program and Research Funding
  • The college has initiated many programs/initiatives to combat what it calls "Racism as a Health Crisis" including "Innovation Pathway proposals on projects that aim to address health disparities and racism in healthcare." The Program is an "opportunity for medical students to work with a faculty mentor and team to propose independent research projects across disciplines that intersect with medicine." Additionally, "Small grants are awarded to students of selected proposals for pursing their questions and for reporting results."
Resources
  • The college's 2022-2027 Strategic Plan states that it would "Develop and promote a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and well-being that leads to a supportive environment for staff, faculty, and students."
  • Faculty, staff, and students at the college are "participating in a joint Task Force on Racial Reform and Social Justice with the University of Illinois College of Medicine to collectively and collaboratively share personal stories and perspectives, and develop local action initiatives and solutions."
  • On June 23, 2020, the college's News webpage published an article titled "Health Care Anti-Bias Tools May Be Endangering Classes of Essential Workers," which features a picture of a medical professional at a protest holding a "Black Lives Matter" sign. The author states, "Bias is so baked into health care delivery that COVID-19 forces us to rethink how we allocate resources so Black and Brown people don’t suffer more than they already have."
  • On June 9, 2023, the college is sponsoring an event featuring the Director of Campus Culture and Climate (within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), titled "Understanding Implicit Bias and Microaggressions: Reimagining Equity and Inclusion in Health Care."
Symbolic Actions
  • On June 29, 2023, the college published its response to the Supreme Court's decision regarding race-conscious admission policies which stated the following: "We will carefully review the specifics of today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision related to the use of affirmative action in admissions practices at Harvard College and the University of North Carolina. As always, we will ensure that practices and policies at our three universities continue to comply with federal and state laws. In considering today’s ruling, we ask that all members of the University of Illinois System family keep in mind that our community’s diversity is both vital and cherished—and that open, civil debate is at the heart of our work to ensure that all can learn, grow and flourish."
Last updated July 17th, 2023
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