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SWAGÊÓƵStudents

Auburn Diversity Resources

Charge:

The charge of this committee is to recognize diversity, equity and inclusion as an essential component of health, to promote equity and fairness on our campus, and to engage our faculty, staff, and students in a manner that all feel engaged, valued, and productive.

In addition, the committee is tasked with assuring and coordinating all college-wide diversity, equity and inclusion activities/presentations to be distributed across campuses so as not to overwhelm students, faculty, and staff schedules.

As an osteopathic medical school, the committee will also support the need to address health disparities as they relate to diverse populations that become disadvantaged. The committee will be committed to a culture of inclusion in serving our communities and patients, engaging our faculty, students, and staff to recognize these needs, and to advocate for equal access to quality healthcare.

The goals and the objectives of the Committee will include:

  1. Fostering an environment that enables all students, faculty, and staff to feel valued, respected, and safe.
  2. Strengthening our mission and commitment to provide opportunities for future students from all populations.
  3. Strengthen our commitment to the patients and communities we serve by fostering access to healthcare for all.
  4. Promoting multicultural events on our campuses that recognize our diverse student body, faculty, and staff.
  5. Provide a safe venue where faculty, staff, and students can engage in conversations that will lead to a positive impact to support diversity, equity and inclusion.
  6. Meet a minimum of each block to ensure appropriate planning and engagement and serve as a conduit of information on needs to administration.
  7. To plan STEM events and campus to foster osteopathic medicine careers in youth for a diverse student body in the future.
  8. Creatively explore ways to improve inclusion on our campuses through supporting events including;
    a. educational events on diverse cultures, their healthcare outcomes, and opportunities for improvement
    b. outreach efforts to support the needs of those with economic challenges
    c. multicultural events to celebrate and merge our diverse student body
    d. identifying and creating a mentoring program for diverse groups
    e. planning and supporting support programs that reduce health disparities

Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion

The Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion also meets with the Diversity Committee which includes various student minority organizations and representatives of a diverse student body to hear their concerns in a safe space, and assist with planning to address the concerns in a positive manner that supports both the students and the College as a whole. The Directors for Diversity will be available to meet with students, faculty or staff to address concerns in confidence.

³Õ°ä°¿²Ñ’s Directors for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion serve as a conduit of information with the Campus Dean and higher administration on suggestions for positive change toward improving inclusion on campus and in the community, to promote equal access to health and healthcare and reduce healthcare disparities.

2024 Events

  • January 20, 2024- ACOP (American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians) Lee County Special Olympics: 12th Annual Polar Plunge 
  • January 24, 2024- ACOP Nourish Foundation 5K  
  • February 29, 2024- SNMA (Student National Medical Association) Black History Month Physician Panel 
  • March 23, 2024- SAAO (Student American Academy of Osteopathy)  Mircale League Volunteering 
  • April 3, 2024- MMSA (Muslim Medical Student Association)  Fastathon 
  • May 3, 2024- ACOP (American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians)  Wetumpka High School Sports Physicals 
  • May 10, 2024- Via Wellness Therapy Dogs  
  • May 13, 2024- HCMO (Hispanic Community Medical Outreach) Salsa Class 
  • May 15, 2024- AMWA (American Medical Women’s Association) Wear Purple for Women’s Health Week 
  • May 17, 2024- SAAO Mircale League Baseball Game Fundraiser 
  • May 30, 2024- AMWA Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 
  • June 14, 2024- SNMA Healthy Heart Heroes at Boykin Community Center 
  • July 10, 2024- SNMA, HCMO, and LGBTGIA Tie Dye and Chill Welcome Week Event 
  • July 10, 2024- AMWA and ACOP Friendship Bracelet Making Welcome Week Event 
  • July 16, 2024- MMSA Trivia Night Welcome Week Event  
  • July 19, 2024- SNMA Block 1 Tips and Tricks Welcome Week Event 
  • July 22-26, 2024- ACOP Nourish School Supply Drive  
  • July 26, 2024- SNMA Tech Made Easy for Seniors at the Opelika Senior Center 
  • August 3, 2024- ACOP Kid’s Duathlon  
  • August 21, 2024- AMWA Women in White Coats 
  • August 30, 2024- SNMA Senior Center Bingo  
  • September 4, 2024- SNMA Stomp Out Hunger Food Drive 
  • September 13, 2024- SNMA Presents VCOMs Got Talent 
  • September 19, 2024- HCMO Spanish Class for International Outreach 
  • October 5, 2024- ACOP Greater Columbus Buddy Walk  
  • October 10, 2024- MMSA Teatime with Dr. Kirby  
  • October 15, 2024- AMWA and ACOOG Breast Cancer Awareness Talk 
  • October 16, 2024- AMWA and ACOOG Coffee for a Cure Fundraiser 
  • October 20, 2024- SOIMA Walk to End Alzheimer’s 
  • October 22, 2024- MMSA Q&A  
  • October 24, 2024- LGBTQIA and ACOP LGBTQ in Pediatrics Talk  
  • October 25, 2024- SNMA Trunk or Treat with the Boys and Girls Club  
  • October 28, 2024- ACOP VCOM- Auburn Trunk or Treat 
  • October 31, 2024- AMWA Candygrams for Mammograms 
  • November 11, 2024- ACOP Auburn Eating Disorder Clinic Talk  
  • December 1-12, 2024- HCMO Angle Tree Fundraiser 
  • December 1-13, 2024- SNMA Warmth and Wellness Holiday Drive 

Past Events

  • January 28, 2023- ACOP Lee County Special Olympics: 11th Annual Polar Plunge 
  • January 30, 2023- SNMA Finances for the Medical Professional 
  • February 11, 2023- AMWA and ACOOG Women’s Symposium  
  • February 23, 2023- SNMA Black History Month Physician Panel  
  • August 5, 2023- ACOP Kids Duathlon 
  • October 27, 2023- ACOOG Breast Cancer Awareness 
  • October 29, 2023- SOIMA Walk to End Alzheimer’s  
  • October 31, 2023- AMWA Candygrams for Mammograms  
  • November 16, 2023- HCMO Salsa Class 
  • November 20, 2023- AMWA and ACOOG Pancakes for Pap Smears 
  • December 5, 2023- ACOP and HCMO Christmas Cards for Kids 
  • December 14, 2023- SNMA Angel Tree for Lee County 

Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Duties

  1. Convene and Chair the Diversity Committee each block, facilitating their success in meeting the goals of the Committee.
  2. Serve as a conduit for the representatives of a diverse student body to meet, hear their concerns in a safe space, and assist with planning to address the concerns in a positive manner that supports both the students and the College as a whole.
  3. Serve as a conduit of information with the Campus Dean and higher administration on suggestions for positive change toward improving inclusion on campus and in the community.
  4. Provide educational documents to employees, students, and staff on an ongoing basis that support positive change to promote equal access to health and healthcare and to reduce healthcare disparities.
  5. Meet with representatives from SNMA, HCMO, and other SWAGÊÓƵstudent professional committees that support improved healthcare for all to assist in planning of events and education; and to hear concerns or recommendations for improvement.
  6. Assist the Dean and administration in resolving any issues that occur on campus or in the community at large that will negatively impact students, faculty, or staff from a specific population as it relates to diversity and social injustice.
  7. Serve as a positive leader for students, faculty, and staff in solving problems and resolving issues that arise from time to time as related to diversity and injustice.
  8. Meet with the Directors for Diversity on each campus (via zoom) one time per block so to plan College-wide events, education, and to discuss items of concern across campuses.
  9. The Directors for Diversity from each campus will also meet two to four times per year to recommend positive change for the institution as a whole to create positive change for Diversity and Inclusion across campuses.

Diversity Committee – SWAGÊÓƵAuburn

Position Name
Chair Mayra Rodriguez, PhD, MPH Chair for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Auburn Campus Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Member Ana Jones, BS, Director for International and Appalachian Outreach Patricia Matto, DO, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
Member Dani McCullough, PhD, Associate Dean for Pre-Clinical Education
Member Paige Oglesby, MEd, Director for Student Services
Member Mary Ann Taylor, PhD, Director for Counseling Services
Member Ellen Wilson, MEd, Director for Admissions
Member Derrick Lane II, Student Representative from Appalachian or Delta Rural Region
Member Cymone Muhammad, President of the Student National Medical Association
Member Zuka Al-Safarjalani, President of the Medical Muslim Student Association
Member Nora Halama, President of the Christian Medical and Dental Association
Member Mark Smith, Chair of LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Healthcare
Member Carlos Jimenez, President of the Hispanic Community Medical Outreach VCOM-Auburn Chapter

Student Organizations

There are numerous student organizations at SWAGÊÓƵwhose mission is to promote cultural awareness, diversity and inclusion, as well as to provide outreach for medically underserved communities or populations or in socio-economically reduced areas.  Visit the Student Organizations page for more information on how you can be involved.