Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative
The VA Office of Research and Development (ORD) is uniquely positioned to support biomedical and health system research that benefits Veterans and others. It has a national reach that extends across more than 100 research offices located throughout the U.S. ORD's mission is to facilitate scientific discovery that can improve Veterans' health and well-being. It does so by funding targeted research and partnering with other federal agencies and academic institutions to solve real-world problems that confront Veterans and others.
One important facet of this charge is to address the specific needs that affect Veterans from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds. One way to accomplish this is to create opportunities for early career VA investigators from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds. ORD leadership believes that scientists and trainees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex health-related problems faced by Veterans.
In 2021, ORD chartered an employee-led work group to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within its sphere of influence. The mission of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work Group (DEI Work Group) is to develop a diverse pipeline of VA investigators from underrepresented backgrounds in medical science; stimulate research on minority health and health disparities; promote inclusion within ORD and across the enterprise; and promote equity in all scientific activities.
DEI Work Group mission statement
The ORD DEI Work Group is committed to leveraging and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion to deliver outstanding public services to our nation's Veterans, and to their families and beneficiaries.
Purpose and scope
The DEI Work Group will serve as an ORD forum for identifying, addressing, implementing, and evaluating policies and practices that support a diverse, inclusive, and equitable: workforce, workplace, and research framework. The DEI Work Group provides independent recommendations to ORD leadership on initiatives related to:
- Developing a diverse scientific workforce through training and funding opportunities.
- Stimulating research focused on minority health and reducing health disparities.
- Promoting a culture of inclusion in ORD workplace that will enhance the quality of our work and increase its relevance to the Veterans, the VA scientific research and the clinical communities we serve.
- Promoting equity in scientific activities including the management of scientific review stakeholders so that they are an accurate reflection of the VA communities that we serve.
Principal focus areas
- Scientific workforce (data collection and analysis, recruitment, retention, training, and funding)
- Minority health & health disparities research (funding opportunities)
- ORD workforce (data collection and analysis, recruitment, retention, training)
- Inclusion in ORD and in a health diversity research framework ( values, training, research opportunities, education opportunities and initiatives)
- Equity in the research enterprise
- Cultural competence
(Note: These focus areas are subject to change over time based on available data, ORD employee feedback, and DEIWG prioritization.)
DEI Work Group organizational structure
Co-Chairs:
Members:
- Jane Battles, Ph.D.
- Tanya N. Byfield
- Liza Catucci, MPH, B.A.
- Alex Chiu, Ph.D.
- Patricia Dorn, Ph.D.
- Angela Foster
- Carol B. Fowler, Ph.D.
- Shirley Groer, Ph.D.
- Crystal Henderson, Ph.D.
- Annette Jackson
- Ying-Yee Kong, Ph.D.
- Lina Kubli, Ph.D.
- Vetisha McClair, Ph.D.
- Kristina Nord, MSW
- Robert O’Brien, Ph.D.
- Jenish Patel, Ph.D.
- Rachel Ramoni, DMD, ScD
- Carol Roberts, MPA
- Tiffin Ross-Shepard, B.S., M.S.
- Miriam Smyth, Ph.D.
- Wendy Tenhula, Ph.D.
- Chinagozi Ugwu, MPH
- Christina Williams, Ph.D., MPH
- Carole Woodle, Ph.D.
Accomplishments (as of October 2024)
DEI Mentored Supplements Program – Over 4 years DEIC funded 37 supplements.
- The DEIC team also meet quarterly with all the supplements and mentors.
- These awardees are now applying for VA Career Development awards.
Publications
- In Spring 2023, the DEI Committee (DEIC) released the Health Equity Special Collection entitled “Improving Care for Veterans Through Health Equity Research. This collection of 13 articles highlights VA’s efforts to increase targeted research and improve care for Veterans from minority and underrepresented backgrounds and has over10,000 downloads to date.
- Special issue of Health Equity devoted to improving care for minority Veterans - VA News
Training and Leadership Development
- Awarded multiple Leadership Development awards for VA Field research employees in FY 22, FY 23, and FY 24.
- Awarded multiple DEI training awards for VA Field Research Employees in FY 22, FY 23 and FY 24.
Summer Research Program
- Launched a Pilot Summer Research Program at 21 VA Medical centers in 2022. This program provided Research opportunities to over 112 students in FY 22; 176 students in FY 23; and 188 students in FY 24.
- In FY 24 VA renewed the Summer Research program for an additional 5-year period and expanded the program to 25 sites.
Summer Research Program Impacts to the Research Enterprise
- Promotes a culture of inclusion within ORD.
- Exposes young adults and early professionals to potential career paths within the VA.
- Enhances the quality of our work and increases its relevance to Veterans, VA scientific research, and the clinical communities we serve.
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Future aims and goals
- Supporting current and future mentored DEI mentored
- Continuing and expanding the Summer Research Program.
- Supporting the building of future leaders from under-represented groups in the VA research field.
To learn about VA's overall commitment to diversity and equity in the workforce, visit the VA Office of Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion (ORMDI) webpage.
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