The HCMC Emergency Medicine Diversity Committee exists to improve the diversity of our EM program at both the residency and faculty levels. Our goal is to raise awareness and implement sustainable strategies that will help us accomplish our mission: “To provide residents with comprehensive training in current and cutting-edge emergency medicine practice in a diverse, high-acuity setting. We endeavor to promote a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and wellness. We value culturally competent care and engagement with our institution, specialty, and community.”
A message to our community in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020 We, the Emergency Medicine Diversity Committee of Hennepin County Medical Center, stand in solidarity with our colleagues, patients, and neighbors across the Twin Cities and the greater metropolitan area after the death of George Floyd. This is yet another violent death that unequivocally should never have happened.
As Emergency Medicine providers, we have witnessed first-hand the unjust impact of systemic inequity upon communities of color. These past months we have once again seen the disproportionate impact of disease in these communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We condemn the actions that led to the death of George Floyd. We support the call to reform the power structures that perpetuate inequality. We commit ourselves to creating a space that is safe and inclusive for our colleagues, patients, and community. We will continue to have the difficult discussions surrounding the privilege that many of us have enjoyed. We promise to listen to the communities who have been speaking for so long but have gone unheard.
We commit to work for equity and justice for our community, regardless of color, race, gender, or socioeconomic background, and will remain steadfast to this commitment after crowds subside and hashtags are no longer trending.
-The HCMC EM Diversity Committee
In addition to our standard medical student rotations, we also offer two externships for underrepresented minority students interested in completing visiting rotations in the Emergency Department at HCMC. Each Diversity Extern receives a $1500 scholarship to help cover expenses related to airfare and housing during their rotation. This externship is available to all 4th-year students who self-identify as belonging to a group underrepresented in medicine and are planning to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine.
Students selected for the Diversity Externship will complete the same clinical and didactic training as our standard student rotation, but will have the added opportunity to participate in diversity, equity, and inclusion experiences. Additionally, Diversity Externs are paired with a dedicated faculty and resident mentor throughout their rotation.
Applications for the annual Diversity Externship will open at the end of January each year and will be available through the Clinician Nexus site. The deadline for applications is April 1st of each year.
For any rotation-related questions, please email Stephanie.Leiviska@hcmed.org. If you have any general questions regarding Diversity at Hennepin EM, please email hennepin.em.diversity@gmail.com.
Click on these links to see a list of resources compiled by members of our Diversity Committee on caring for various patient populations:
