Eastern Virginia Medical School

On July 14, 2023, the school's Art Therapy program updated its statement on diversity (as part of its admissions guide) which reads in part: "Eastern Virginia Medical School embraces diversity broadly defined but places a special emphasis on recruitment of women and traditionally underrepresented minorities in medicine and the health professions."

The school's 2023 Commencement publication includes the EVMS diversity statement, which reads in part: "Eastern Virginia Medical School embraces diversity broadly defined, but places a special emphasis on recruitment of women, traditionally underrepresented minorities in medicine and the health professions (African Americans, Latinos, American Indians and Native Alaskans, and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders), veterans and individuals who come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Acknowledging that diversity is a fluid and evolving concept, we will continually strive to be inclusive of individuals and groups in the broadest possible manner."

On January 16, 2023, EVMS announced, “Registration is now open for Diversity and Inclusion's next cohort of the Inclusive Excellence in Medicine (IEM) series.” This consists of a training which is open to faculty and staff members and centers on “key facets related to diversity, equity and inclusion, including addressing biases, micro-aggressions, inequities, social determinants of health and systematic sequelae of racism.”

On February 28, 2023, the Department of Physiological Sciences published its "New Faculty Orientation" handbook which states the following faculty search policy: "Training search committees and the faculty on principles of inclusion and unconscious bias in the screening and assessment process."

The school's Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) Pediatric Visiting Rotation program (through the Office of DEI) strives to "attract residents and faculty from diverse backgrounds and experiences to drive our collective commitment to excellence... as such, these positions are available to qualified applicants from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in medicine." (The application deadline was on July 31, 2023.)

EVMS has a Pediatric DEI Committee, which is a committee of residents and program leaders dedicated to the continued enrichment of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the medical school. The committee focuses on education, mentorship, recruitment, LGBTQIA+, and community engagement.

EVMS has several education-related DEI initiatives. First, the school has three "quality improvement projects": 1) "What Do You MEAN?" is "scenario-based small group discussions emphasizing mindfulness, discussing bias, and building skills for encountering micro-aggressions within the health care setting"; 2) “TAKE ACTION” uses a visual aid to "promote discussion to encourage diversity and acknowledge microaggressions"; 3) Limited English Proficiency (LEP) QI improves quality and equity of care for the Spanish-speaking patient population around EVMS through the introduction of the LEP form, a method of "tracking appropriate interpreter use." Second, EVMS offers a "Diversity Lecture Series" focused on "inclusive excellence in medicine". The seven categories included are: 1) race, ethnicity and culture: key terminology and language; 2) cultivating courageous conversations: 'Care-frontation--How do I say what I mean, mean what I say?'; 3) how to be an anti-racist: key lessons, goals and actions; 4) addressing microaggressions: disarming individual and systemic bias; 5) advancing allyship, inclusion and creating safe spaces; 6) creating a climate of inclusivity: embracing authenticity and uniqueness within diversity; 7) addressing healthcare inequities and social determinants of health: moving from inequity to equity.

As part of its mentorship and recruitment DEI initiatives, EVMS offers "Diversity Dinners" and "Diversity Happy Hours" to provide minority students with networking opportunities.

On April 5th, 2021, EVMS hosted a book discussion on "How to be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi.

Eastern Virginia Medical School has a page dedicated to providing health equity resources. Resources for “current publications and resources on health disparities, cultural competency and diversity and inclusion” are collated and published.

On February 16, 2023, the school hosted a lecture titled "Eating Our Way to Healthy Hearts: Closing the Gap in Black Health Disparities.”

Following the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, East Virginian Medical School (EVMS) released an antiracism statement.

Soon after George Floyd's death, EVMS created a virtual Unity and Solidarity Message Board as a "visible demonstration of support to all people of color" within the school community. The message board allows people to post a message of unity and support for community members.

EVMS has partnered with Community-Engaged Learning in order to promote initiatives that “strive to enhance the education of EVMS students on social determinants of health and cultural competency.”

EVMS stated that it has a partnership with the Urban League of Hampton Roads in order to “engage community leaders around health equity.”

Eastern Virginia Medical School has partnered with “community-based and faith-based organizations, such as the Hampton Roads Prostate Health Forum, to address health disparities.”