Updates

The formal kickoff with Catalyst, an external consulting group, begins this month with data gathering, interviews, and access to the Catalyst Supporter Network for School of Medicine faculty, staff, students and trainees. In addition, Community Discussion Sessions are now underway.

There are two key areas of progress to report this month. The first is the selection of an external consulting group named Catalyst, that will provide expert guidance to the Task Force. Additionally, the Task Force has established a series of listening sessions that will be led by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The Task Force, representing different parts of our academic medical campus community, has been assembled and is beginning its work. As a next step, Task Force leaders have begun actively vetting external consultants who have deep expertise in identifying key gaps and levers for culture change.

The Executive Faculty Task Force on Climate and Culture originates at the highest levels of leadership and will be fully supported by the University. The group will be charged with identifying underlying aspects of the culture here at WashU that can lead to a negative climate for women, people of color, and other vulnerable or marginalized members of our community.