Office of Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Committed to promoting health equity through education by recruiting, supporting, retaining, and advancing high-quality medical students from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in medicine.
Leading Social Justice Initiatives
The Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OHEDI) is committed to promoting health equity through education by recruiting, supporting, retaining, and advancing high-quality medical students from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in medicine (URiM).
In response to the needs of our local community and patient population, OHEDI concentrates our recruitment and retention efforts on medical students, residents, and faculty who identify as Black, African-American, Hispanic, Latinx, and students who self-identify as educationally and/ or economically disadvantaged.
We are also intentional in our efforts to create an inclusive environment for students, residents, faculty, and staff from other marginalized groups.
Promoting Health Equity
OHEDI recognizes that an environment enriched with people from varied backgrounds, working to address health disparities, enhances scholarly work and the development of a culturally aware and responsive health care workforce.
Signature Programs & Events
- LKSOM Summer Pre-Matriculation Program “PREP” (Every July)
- Diversity Scholars Summer Research & Enrichment Program (June-July)
- Mini Medical School (Every July)
- Health Careers Exploration Day (Every June)
- Black Men in Medicine Symposium (Every November)
- Diversity Dialogues (Every 4th Monday, September – May)
- Diversity & Inclusion Book Club
- Health Equity Leadership & Social Justice Awards
Education & Community Partners
- Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Temple Chapter
- Latino Medical Student Associate (LMSA) Temple Chapter
- Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) Temple LKSOM Chapter
- Temple Health LGBTQ Alliance Task Force Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People in Medicine Temple Chapter
- Center for Urban Bioethics
- Masters in Urban Bioethics
- Bridging the Gaps
- Temple Health – Graduate Medical Education Committee’s (GMEC) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee
- Temple University Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (IDEAL)
Resources for Medical Students
Internships, Fellowships, Scholarships and Away Rotation Programs
Current students may be eligible to participate in internship or fellowship programs. View the list below.
- Albany Medical College
- American Academy of Neurology
- American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
- American College of Radiology
- American Society of Hematology
- American Society for Radiation Oncology
- Boston Medical Center
- Brown University
- Children’s National/George Washington University
- Duke University School of Medicine
- Harvard Medical School Visiting Research Internship Program
- Harvard Medical School Visiting Clerkship Program
- Johns Hopkins University Department of Medicine
- Johns Hopkins University Department of Otolaryngology
- Louisiana State University
- Mayo Clinic
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Mount Sinai
- National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program
- New York University
- Northwestern University
- Oregon Health and Sciences University
- Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- Saint Louis Integrated Health Network Summer Internship
- Stanford University
- Thomas Jefferson University
- University of Alabama
- University of California Davis
- University of California Los Angeles
- University of California San Francisco
- University of Chicago
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Colorado School of Medicine
- University of Colorado Medical Student Diversity Grants
- University of Michigan
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine Charlotte Campus
- The University of North Carolina School of Medicine Chapel Hill Campus
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Utah
- University of Washington
- University of Wisconsin Madison
- Wake Forest University
- Washington University in Saint Louis Office of Diversity Programs
- Washington University in Saint Louis Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Yale University
Diversity Statement
Located in the heart of an economically distressed and diverse urban area, the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University is acutely aware of the impact of the national systemic problems related to the lack of health equity and access to affordable, culturally responsive healthcare. In response, we will address issues to promote health equity through education, care delivery, workforce development, and research. We recognize that an environment enriched with persons from varied backgrounds working to address health disparity enhances scholarly work and the development of a culturally aware and responsive healthcare workforce.
The Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University values and embraces a diverse community reflected by a wide variety of individual identities and outlooks. We are committed to achieving a climate of inclusion that respects and affirms the diverse backgrounds and life experiences of those who work and train here as well as those we serve. We recognize that excellence in all aspects of education, training, research, and care delivery can only be achieved when all students, faculty, staff, community members and patients experience authentic connection and engagement; feel supported; and are encouraged to participate and contribute to creating health equity.
Our Team
Melanie A. Cosby, PhD
Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Assistant Professor, Center for Urban Bioethics
Ikemefuna I. Akusoba, MD
Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
St. Luke's Campus
Ana Gamero, PhD
OHEDI Faculty Scholar
Associate Professor, Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry
Associate Professor, Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine
Associate Professor, Cancer and Cellular Biology
Tecile Andolino, MD
OHEDI Faculty Scholar
Pediatric Nephrologist
St. Luke's Univesity Health Network
Grisela L. Ramos
Administrative Coordinator
Office of Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Nicole Miller-Allen
Program Coordinator
Office of Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
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