Different colored paint chips

A Note on EDI From the Interim Chair

Kevin Weinfurt, PhDKevin Weinfurt, PhD

The Department of Population Health Sciences is committed to realizing the goals of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in our research, teaching, and interactions with each other and our community. We recognize the detrimental impact of systemic racism, the prolonged oppression of individuals based on their identity and color, and the harmful consequences of health disparities. We understand that we have the opportunity and responsibility to make things better. Further, as an academic department, we recognize that our work flourishes when we encourage pluralism of ideas and experiences and cooperation among diverse scholars to positively impact the health of all.

With the help of the department's EDI Committee, we continually review our work environment and processes to identify new opportunities to promote fundamental EDI principles. We develop transparent, standardized hiring procedures to reduce the role of bias in decisions about who joins our community. We promote inclusive excellence in our classrooms and support underrepresented students through mentorship, training, and financial support to foster a more diverse and innovative research community.

To achieve meaningful change, we must all commit to sustained effort and be transparent about our progress. On these pages, we will update our progress toward realizing a rich, inclusive, respectful, and pluralistic community of learners and researchers.

Read Duke University's Institutional Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion