Engagement and Belonging in Medicine – May 2024

By Internal Medicine at Iowa

Dear Colleagues,

As we celebrate UI Health Care Week, it is timely to reflect on the commitment and dedication that all the members of our department and across the entire institution bring to our mission of providing world-class medicine to people from Iowa and beyond. I’m thankful to be part of a team of outstanding health care professionals, whose commitment to patient care and well-being makes a profound difference every day. From the frontline workers to the administrative staff, each one of you plays a crucial role in creating a supportive and healing environment for our patients and their families.

In our renewed effort to increase engagement across all areas of the department, we are also excited to welcome new members to our Engagement and Belonging Committee (see below). This committee will work on promoting a sense of community and support within our department and connecting with our community. We invite residents and fellows to apply and contribute their unique perspectives and ideas. Joining the committee is a wonderful opportunity to engage more deeply with the community and our coworkers to influence positive change. For example, recently, some of our colleagues joined in an effort to increase awareness about the health impacts of alcohol use.

Together, we can help promote a healthier community, while continuing to foster a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, and excellence, ensuring that every member of our department feels valued and empowered. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and for making our department a place where both staff and patients thrive.

Welcome to our new Engagement and Belonging Committee members

  • Kathleen Detert, Administrative Services Coordinator – Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Dalal El Ladiki, MD, Postdoctoral Scholar – Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center
  • Yuya Hagiwara, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine – Division of General Internal Medicine
  • Claire McGranahan, Associate Editor – Department of Internal Medicine Communications

Engagement and Belonging office hours

Drop in at Dr. Gutierrez’s office at SE 628 GH or join via Zoom between 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. the fourth Friday of each month to engage with colleagues, discuss any issues or concerns, or ideas to foster as sense of belonging or any other ways that the office can help you thrive here. We want to hear from you!

Apply to be part of the Engagement and Belonging Committee

In our renewed commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment that not only resonates with our faculty but also extends to staff, advanced practice providers, trainees, patients, and community partners, we are seeking applications for new members. Anyone interested in being part of this Committee is encouraged to apply here.

Culturally Responsive Health Care in Iowa conference

The conference, held on June 6, will focus on the history of racism in medicine and present-day health disparities. Click here to learn more and register.

Celebrating Asian Pacific Heritage Month at the University of Iowa

We end spring semester with a celebration of National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) in May. The University of Iowa led the celebration in April with campus-wide events, and there are more ways to recognize the diverse heritage nationally this month.

In the community

Visit Iowa Magazine to discover events, festivals, and performances happening in the greater Iowa City area this summer.

 

IDEAS Learning Series

AAMC’s upcoming IDEAS webinars are on a variety of inclusive topics, taking place from noon to 1:00 p.m. on May 21 and 24.

 

May events, celebrations, and holidays

  • Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: This month recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.
  • Jewish American Heritage Month: This is an annual recognition and celebration of American Jews’ achievements and contributions to the United States during the month of May.
  • Mental Health Awareness Month: This month is observed to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness.
  • Older Americans Month: This month is observed to encourage and recognize the countless contributions that older adults make to our communities.
  • May 1: Beltane (Pagan): The Gaelic May Day festival, marking the beginning of summer. Historically, it was widely observed in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.
  • May 3: Holy Friday (Orthodox Christian): A Christian holy day observing the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord, Great and Holy Friday.
  • May 5: Cinco de Mayo: A yearly celebration of Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza.
  • May 5: Yom Hashoah (Jewish): Also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, this is observed as Israel’s day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, and for the Jewish resistance in that period.
  • May 5: Pascha (Orthodox Christian): Also called Easter, this day celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
  • May 9: Ascension Day (Christian): This day commemorates the Christian belief of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into Heaven.
  • May 9-12: University of Iowa graduation ceremonies
  • May 12-18: UI Health Care Week
  • May 16: Global Accessibility Awareness Day: A consciousness-raising awareness day focusing on digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people alive today who live with disabilities or impairments.
  • May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia: The main purpose of this day is to raise awareness of violence, discrimination, and repression of LGBT communities worldwide, which in turn provides an opportunity to take action and engage in dialogue with the media, policymakers, public opinion, and wider civil society.
  • May 22: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development: Sometimes abbreviated World Day for Cultural Diversity, this is a United Nations–sanctioned observance day for the promotion of diversity and intercultural dialogue.
  • May 30: Memorial Day: A federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list of cultural events and holidays celebrated in this month.

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