Diversity and Inclusion

The Division of Clinical Pharmacology is committed to fostering a culture that promotes and supports the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Department of Medicine. Drs. Annet Kirabo and Rachelle Johnson represent the division as Diversity Liaisons for the department’s Diversity Liaison Committee. Together, they coordinate division-specific diversity initiatives, including grand rounds, unconscious bias and anti-racism training, as well as an outreach program that sends graduate student volunteers into elementary schools with predominantly underrepresented populations to work on STEM-related projects. The division has also compiled a library of books related anti-racism that is available for all Medicine faculty and trainees.

Featured Activities and Projects

• Jan. 24, 2023 Division Grand Rounds: “Interdisciplinary Approaches to Address Cardiovascular Health Disparities” by Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, MD, MPH, FAHA, chief of Social Determinants of Obesity and Cardiovascular Rick Laboratory, Cardiovascular Branch, DIR, NHLBI
• Dr. Annet Kirabo participated in the Black in Cardio panel discussion, “Being a Scientist in the Social Media Era,” at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions

Diversity-related Publications

• Obesity Is Associated with Increased F2-Isoprostanes and IL-6 in Black Women. Endocrines, 2023.
• Enhanced parasympathetic cholinergic activity with galantamine inhibited lipid-induced oxidative stress in obese African Americans. Mol Med, 2022 Jun 3.
• Salt-Sensitivity of Blood Pressure in Blacks and Women: A role of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and ENaC. Antioxid Redox Signal, 2021 Sep 25.

Vanderbilt DEI Resources

• Department of Medicine Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• VUMC/VUSM Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence 
• VUMC Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Disability
• VUMC House Staff Diversity & Inclusion Alliance
• VUMC Minority House Staff for Academic and Medical Achievement
• VUMC Program for LGBTQ Health
• Vanderbilt University Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Vanderbilt University Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Life

Internal resources for VUMC employees (Requires login)

• VUMC Office of Diversity and Inclusion
• VUMC/VUSM Office for Diversity Affairs
• VUMC Office of Health Equity Antiracism Hub
• VUMC Employee Resource Groups
  • African American ERG
  • Asian American/Pacific Islander ERG
  • Disability ERG
  • Latino ERG
  • LGBTQ+ ERG
  • Veterans ERG
• Diversity literature and articles (SharePoint access required)