Department of Radiology Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Respect for all and all are welcome

Our mission is to employ a diverse community of faculty, learners, and staff that enriches our learning environment and helps provide better patient care. The mission of OHSU Department of Radiology Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee is to create a healthy environment that cultivates unity, understanding, and collaboration among all.

Denouncing racism and embracing inclusion

The OHSU Department of Radiology’s DEI & Belonging Committee strongly denounces the ongoing overt racist, discriminatory and violent acts towards Black Americans and condemns all such acts towards people of color and of all backgrounds. Discrimination and inequality that remain casually pervasive throughout our society are often harder to identify, but are just as damaging in their insidious nature.

We must intentionally strive for a more open, diverse, inclusive, and equitable healthcare environment for the future of medicine and Radiology. Proactive steps toward making inclusion and diversity an institutional aim will only serve to improve patient care. At the heart of it, this means learning about the legacy of privilege and racism in our own country, city and profession, accepting the discomfort of change, and truly listening. Really listening with an open mind to try to understand others and challenging ourselves to identify and actively work against our own biases are the only acceptable path forward.

Our country deserves better, our patients deserve better, and we must do better.

All of us are learning what it means to be more inclusive and equitable, and our language is important and ever-changing. The OHSU Inclusive Language Guide clarifies terminology and explains why some terms are considered appropriate or inappropriate.

Current and future faculty, fellow and resident education

Unconscious bias training

The Unconscious Bias Campus-wide Initiative is part of many ongoing efforts led by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion to remove barriers to individual and group success. Phase one of the initiative comprises a two-hour training for employees and the identification of ambassadors.

See what’s happening around the School of Medicine and visit the OHSU SOM Diversity and Equity page.

Cultural Diversity

Academy of Online Radiology Education (ACORE)

Three of our faculty are senior editors of Academy of Online Radiology Education (ACORE) which provides free, high-quality online radiology education. Although this project was just established in 2020, learners from all six continents already use this platform. Learning tools include monthly blogs summarizing the most relevant radiology articles in each subspecialty of radiology, webinars, and interesting cases. Our three faculty serving as editors are Dr. Bronwyn Hamilton for the neuroradiology section, Dr. Cristina Fuss for the cardiovascular section, and Dr. Alice Fung for the gastroenterology and genitourinary sections.

Global Health Radiology Medical School Course

Dr. Chara Rydzak presented a special OHSU Medical School Enrichment Course/Activity called “Global Health Radiology – An Introduction.” The activity used radiology images to teach global health concepts and convey radiology’s critical role in healthcare. The course touched on the lack of basic radiology services (and other health care) contributing to poorer outcomes in resource-poor regions both locally and globally. Participants also discussed strategies for increasing access in underserved populations and the far-reaching effects of poor global health.

ABR Alternate Pathway

International Medical Graduates from the reaches of globe participate in our American Board of Radiology Alternate Pathway to Certification. These outstanding individuals enrich our programs not only by bringing their unique talents as radiologists, but also by sharing their cultural perspectives with our faculty, trainees, staff, and patients and contributing to greater cultural diversity. Recent, current, and incoming trainees hail from places like Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, India, Japan, Kenya, and Nigeria. Learn more about our ABR Alternative Pathway to Certification program.

Radiology Thai residency exchange program

Through the OHSU - Siriraj Hospital (Bangkok, Thailand) Radiology Residency exchange program, 2-4 senior residents from OHSU spend one month immersed in Thailand’s premier radiology residency program. During their month at Siriraj Hospital, OHSU residents learn by reviewing cases alongside Siriraj’s radiology residents, during case read-out sessions with faculty, and through regular didactic conferences. But this educational experience reaches far beyond the workstation. Residents also learn about healthcare systems, approaches to medical education, and a culture that may be different than their own.

Gender Issues within the field of radiology and patient care

Patient focused care

This is a 3D image of a CT angiogram for surgical planning for a phalloplasty skin flap.

Dr. Kyle Jensen has presented on gender affirmation surgeries at several annual meetings for the Society of Abdominal Radiology. Pre-procedural imaging plays an important role for these procedures as interest and medical coverage increase and surgical techniques improve. Understanding these procedures help address inequities transgender and gender diverse individuals experience with the medical system.

Committee members

Gender Equity in Academic Radiology (GEAR) Group

Diagnostic Radiology Women in Radiology Faculty Dinner 2016. Radiology female Faculty enjoying dinner together on an outside resturantpatio.

Visit our Gender Equity in Academic Radiology (GEAR), School of Medicine page.