Nurturing diversity is among the seven key priorities cited in the UCSF Strategic Plan, which serves as a guide to advance UCSF’s leadership in the life sciences.
Unveiled in June 2007, the plan specifically calls on the University to build on its commitment to diversity. In addition, the UCSF diversity initiative recommends that UCSF implement a comprehensive communication plan to regularly report diversity-related issues and events.
With that in mind, UCSF is hosting a number of events to celebrate diversity by hosting a series of events throughout October.
Saturday, Oct. 4: UCSF will present a workshop, titled “Cultural Competency for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans,” 9 to 11 a.m., Herbst Hall, UCSF Mount Zion. Learn more about treating the invisible wounds of war during this talk that highlights how treatment is improved through collaborations between veterans, families and care providers. The event is a joint collaboration between the Coming Home Project, the UCSF School of Medicine and UCTV. The Iraq Action Group at UCSF is coordinating the event.
Monday, Oct. 6: UCSF will present “The Hidden Race and Gender Factor in Presidential Campaigns,” noon to 1 p.m., UCSF School of Nursing, room N 225. Educator, author and filmmaker Jackson Katz unveils a multimedia presentation examining the subtle gender issues playing out in the race to the White House. Katz is recognized for his work with men and boys in gender violence education, especially within sports and military communities. The presentation is sponsored by the Center for Gender Equity.
Wednesday, Oct. 8: UCSF will host the “Diversity Mural Celebration: Sanarte – Diversity’s Pathway,” noon to 2 p.m., Millberry Union Gymnasium. The campus community is invited to attend a celebration honoring UCSF’s commitment to diversity and paying tribute to muralist Juana Alicia, who created Sanarte, a mural that documents the struggle for equal opportunity, diversity and social justice. The celebration includes a welcome by Chancellor Mike Bishop, MD, a talk by Alicia, music by jazz musician Dee Spencer, a screening of a historical video honoring the efforts of the UCSF Black Caucus in the late 1960s, and a performance by the Chitresh Das Dance Company. A reception and catered reception in front of the mural will follow.
Thursday, Oct. 9, and Friday, Oct. 10: UCSF will screen the film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (rated PG) at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. on each day in Cole Hall Cinema on the Parnassus campus. Directed by Julian Schnabel, the film is the true story of Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffered from a stroke that left all but his left eye paralyzed.
Tuesday, Oct. 14: UCSF Orbit Music Series presents jazz musical group “The Cunninghams,” noon to 1 p.m., Cole Hall on the Parnassus campus. Straight from Las Vegas, the Cunninghams will perform poignant ballads, intricate scatting and render an electrifying improvisation of jazz. The Orbit Music Series is sponsored by Chancellor Michael Bishop and directed and produced by Campus Life Services Arts and Events.
UCSF will celebrate Juana Alicia's mural, “Sanarte – Diversity’s Pathway”, on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
(TBD) UCSF presents “History and Development of the Cultural Competence Guide,” noon to 1 p.m., room to be determined, San Francisco General Hospital. Yewoubdar Beyene, PhD, Sue Dibble, RN, DNSc, Juliene Lipson, RN, PhD, and Pamela Minarik, RN, come together to discuss how the guide can aid health workers to more effectively communicate with diverse populations and provide more sensitive care.
Monday, Oct. 20: UCSF presents the Diversity Best Practices Awards, noon to 1 p.m., Millberry Gymnasium on the Parnassus campus. The invitation-only luncheon recognizes campus and medical center managers and directors for their best practices in planning for or achieving faculty and staff diversity. Since 1988, UCSF departments have been asked to complete an affirmative action and diversity progress report each year, describing progress in recruiting diverse candidates and detailing their actions taken to ensure and enhance an atmosphere of acceptance and integration of diverse employees. The annual luncheon is the occasion when departments receiving high scores on progress reports are saluted.
Wednesday, Oct. 22: The Fourth Annual Evelyn Lee Visiting Scholar on Cultural Competence and Diversity presents “The Clash of Cultures: Traditional and Western Healing Environments and Medical Worldviews,” noon to 1 p.m., Langley Porter Auditorium, room LP 190, on the Parnassus campus. Richard Mollica, MD, a professor at Harvard Medical School and director of the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, offers insight into varying health approaches. His visit is hosted by the Department of Psychiatry’s Diversity Committee.
Wednesday, Oct. 22: UCSF will present a talk, titled “The Legacy of Matthew Shepard,” noon to 1 p.m., Health Sciences West, room 300, on the Parnassus campus. The talk also will be simulcast to Mission Bay’s Rock Hall Auditorium. In 1998, Judy Shepard lost her son, Matthew, to a murder motivated by anti-gay hatred. His tragic death prompted calls for tolerance nationwide and catalyzed the acclaimed oral history production The Laramie Project. Speaking from her unique perspective, Judy Shepard movingly urges her audiences to make their schools and communities safer for everyone, regardless of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. Sponsored by the UCSF Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center, the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Issues, LGBT Student Association, Cultural Enrichment Fund, Associated Students of UCSF, Graduate Students’ Association, Diversity Week Planning Committee, Center for Gender Equity and Student Activity Center.
Thursday, Oct. 23: UCSF will screen the film Body of War (rated PG) at 6 p.m. in Cole Hall on the Parnassus campus. Co-directed and co-written by Phil Donahue, this documentary follows a disabled Iraq War veteran, Tomas Young, as he pieces his life together and becomes an activist against the Iraq War.
Friday, Oct. 24: UCSF presents the Health Disparities Research Symposium II, 8 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Laurel Heights Auditorium. Exemplifying UCSF’s vision of serving our community, as stated in the UCSF Strategic Plan, this research symposium showcases the groundbreaking work of eight UCSF faculty who are addressing health disparities. A poster session highlighting some of the more than 50 abstracts that were submitted this year also will be on display. The symposium refers to health disparities as gaps in the quality of health and health care across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. The definition of health disparities includes differences in the presence of disease, health outcomes, and quality of and access to health care. The symposium will showcase the breadth of research from the diversity of disciplines at UCSF, both quantitative and qualitative. The goal is to build community among disparities researchers from various disciplines and across units, schools and campus sites.
Tuesday, Oct. 28: UCSF presents a reading by Lonny Shavelson and Fred Setterberg from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the UCSF School of Nursing, room 225. The authors will read from their book titled, Under the Dragon: California’s New Culture which examines how cultures in the Bay Area interact in new and unique ways. A Bay Area physician, writer, radio and photojournalist, Shavelson’s articles and photographs have appeared in the New York Times, People, Newsweek, Los Angeles Times and Mother Jones, He is the recipient of a NEA fellowship and numerous journalism awards. Setterberg is the author of The Roads Taken: Travels Through America's Literary Landscapes and the winner of the Associated Writing Program's award in creative nonfiction. The University book store will be selling the book at a 15% discount and the authors will be present to sign before and after the lecture on Oct. 28. Additional lectures have been added at the Mission Center Building at 10 a.m. and San Francisco General Hospital’s Carr Auditorium at 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 29 and Thursday, Oct. 30: UCSF Child Care Services presents three “Samba Samba,” performances. “Samba Samba” is an interactive educational workshop that uses music and percussion as tools for capturing the imagination of its participants. On Wednesday the program takes place from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Mission Bay Child Care Center on the Mission Bay campus. On Thursday the event takes place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Laurel Heights Child Care Center on the Laurel Heights campus and also from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Lucia Child Care Center at 610 Parnassus Avenue on the Parnassus campus. This program is suitable for children of all ages as well as adults. The creator of the program, James Henry, is a master percussionist who has traveled the world in an effort to create a culturally rich experience. “Samba Samba” presents cultural wisdom from every area of the globe. Expect to dance, sing and be transported to different cultures through the sounds of drums and percussion.
Photo by Susan Merrell
