A Note on EDI From the Interim Chair
Kevin 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
Thoughts on Our Direction from the EDI Vice Chair
Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD
I am honored to contribute to the ongoing efforts of the Department of Population Health Sciences’ EDI Committee as its new Vice-Chair.
Please join me in expressing gratitude to Dr. Tomi Akinyemiju for her exemplary leadership as Vice-Chair from 2019 to 2024. Under her direction, the EDI Committee has advanced many effective initiatives, including the development of the DPHS hiring toolkit, which has significantly enhanced diversity in our department.
Since its inception five years ago, the EDI Committee has made notable strides toward dismantling policies and practices that have historically excluded minoritized groups from attending and working at private institutions like Duke University. Yet, there remains much work to be done.
Our diversity drives our excellence — and we have a collective responsibility to challenge systems of oppression, fight injustice, and foster a departmental culture that welcomes everyone.
As Vice-Chair of the EDI Committee, I will rely heavily on the lived experiences and expertise of everyone in our department to inform and shape our shared priorities for the next year. I look forward to engaging with students, trainees, staff, and faculty in the coming months to identify opportunities for DPHS’s continued growth and improvement.
We are steadfast in our commitment to enhancing both personal and departmental accountability to uphold the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work, as well as advocating for fair and transparent policies that impact Duke at large. I am genuinely excited to do this work with all of you.