Two Faculty of Medicine projects were awarded the 2015 UBC Equity Enhancement Fund. There were a total of 19 groups receiving funding for new initiatives designed to enhance equity at UBC. Funding was approved for 14 applications from Vancouver and five applications from the Okanagan. The total amount of funding provided this year is $90,000.
“I am pleased at the number of high quality applications we received this year,” said Sara-Jane Finlay, Associate Vice President, Equity and Inclusion. “The projects chosen are closely aligned with the University’s commitment and responsibilities to enhance equity across campuses and we look forward to seeing the results of these innovative initiatives.”
Due to more flexible application guidelines, a greater number of applications from students were received with 9 of the 19 proposals from student-led organizations. The Equity and Inclusion office received a record number of applications for 2015 with 57 from Vancouver and 15 from the Okanagan.
Dr. Graydon Meneilly
The first project championed by Dr. Graydon Meneilly, Professor and Head, Department of Medicine and Equity Committee Chair has received $5,000 in funding. The project is titled, “Reducing Unconscious Bias in Academic Medicine.” This project will include a series of workshops to increase awareness of unconscious bias amongst faculty and trainees in the Departments of Medicine and Surgery. By teaching faculty and trainees to recognize unconscious bias they will have the tools and strategies to mitigate the effects of unconscious bias in their careers and in their delivery of healthcare.
The second project that received $4,000 in funding is in collaboration with the UBC Stem Cell Club. The project titled, “Building Ethnic Diversity into Canada’s Stem Cell Donor Database.” This project aims to strengthen the quantity and quality of membership and the diversity on Canada’s stem cell database. Partnering with Canadian Blood Services, this first student-run group is accredited to independently run stem cell drives.