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Mission

Cultural Competence Education, Faculty Retention and Promotion, and Medical Student Support

Enhance cultural competence among students and practitioners through education and awareness.

The University Of Utah School Of Medicine is committed to preparing an ethnically diverse student body to lead this nation in the 21st century, celebrating the richness of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The Office of Diversity and Community Outreach adheres to the principle that a multicultural learning environment serves to benefit all students. Through programs in cultural competence, faculty support and enhanced awareness, the DCO is able to support the needs of this medical student population.

Support and retain medical students, specifically under-represented in medicine.

The School of Medicine recognizes that advocating a culturally competent and diverse academic workplace will enhance its leadership role in medical education. The SOM supports such programs as faculty-based one-on-one mentoring for medical students from under-represented groups, and student-based organizations working with the DCO to bring diverse students together, thereby, helping to foster an environment within our academic community that supports the personal achievements and development of outstanding students and faculty of diverse backgrounds.

Preparation and Recruitment of Medical School Applicants

To prepare applicants for the SOM through participation in pipeline programs, advising and campus partnerships.

The mission of the DCO is to increase the participation of under-represented and economically disadvantaged groups as well as people of diverse ethnic backgrounds in the continuum of medical school activities. Success in this endeavor depends on a vital interplay of activities involving recruitment, training and education, and provision of outreach support services for multicultural groups.

Recruit applicants and increase the diversity in the applicant pool.

It has been and continues to be increasingly difficult to attract groups under-represented in medicine and women. The DCO will promote the concepts and benefits of pluralism throughout the medical center and will strive to recruit, develop and retain talented students and faculty from under-represented groups. Innovative methods will be needed to compete for the limited pool of talented students and develop an environment conducive to their intellectual growth and maturation, while supporting an aggressive recruitment program that assures uniform admissions policies and maintains high academic performance standards.

Facilitate outreach programs and community partnerships to broaden exposure to medicine and health professions and enhance medical education for students.

The DCO will serve to create opportunities to unite a diverse student body and to develop a partnership with the surrounding community, thereby, developing a robust clinical outreach program/health planning for under served groups in the surrounding community. The DCO will coordinate the SOM's many and varied interactions with community groups and organizations in a innovative and progressive manner.