A call to action for our community
We at Washington University School of Medicine are incredibly proud of the caliber of our work and the strength of our commitment to a culture that supports diversity, equity and inclusion.
We recognize that diversity, equity and inclusion not only hold intrinsic value, but also enhance our excellence. As individuals and collectively, we are at our best in an environment where everyone is welcomed, valued and celebrated as their most authentic selves.
At the same time, we also are aware of and concerned about elements of the culture here at Washington University School of Medicine that can lead to a negative climate within our community.
Executive Faculty Task Force on Climate & Culture: 2023
To address those concerns fully, with transparency and accountability, the Washington University School of Medicine Executive Faculty voted unanimously in December 2022 to convene the Task Force on Climate and Culture. This task force was charged with identifying underlying aspects of the culture that can lead to a negative climate. This Task Force completed its work in December 2023 with the release of two reports: one from Catalyst, a consulting group with expertise in workplace inclusion, and the second from the Executive Faculty Task Force itself.
Implementation Task Force: 2024 onward
Moving forward with the recommendations and into a new phase of the process, the Executive Faculty formed the Implementation Task Force headed by Michael S. Avidan, MBBCh, the Dr. Seymour and Rose T. Brown Professor and head of the Department of Anesthesiology, and Linda J. Richards, PhD, the Edison Professor of Neurobiology and head of the Department of Neuroscience. The new Task Force is composed of department heads and representatives from Human Resources and the Office of General Counsel, key leaders with the authority to enact the recommendations highlighted in the new reports.