DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Drivers of excellence and innovation
The best learning environment is a diverse environment
DIVERSITY AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Steven G. Gabbe, MD
Senior Vice President for Health Sciences,
The Ohio State University
Chief Executive Officer,
The Ohio State University
Wexner Medical Center
John A. Davis, PhD, MD
Associate Dean for
Medical Education,
The Ohio State University
College of Medicine
Leon McDougle, MD, MPH
Chief Diversity Officer,
The Ohio State University
Wexner Medical Center
Quinn Capers IV, MD
Associate Dean for Admissions,
The Ohio State University
College of Medicine
Edmund F. Funai, MD
Interim Dean,
The Ohio State University
College of Medicine
Ginny L. Bumgardner, MD, PhD
Associate Dean for
Research Education,
The Ohio State University
College of Medicine
Daniel M. Clinchot, MD
Vice Dean for Education
The Ohio State University
College of Medicine
D. Joanne Lynn, MD
Associate Dean for Student Life,
The Ohio State University
College of Medicine
Joanna Groden, PhD
Vice Dean for Research
The Ohio State University
College of Medicine
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Ohio State is creating the future of medicine through . . .
CURRICULAR INNOVATION
Ohio State has a rich heritage of medical innovation. Since its beginning in 1914, The Ohio State University College of
Medicine has earned the respect of its graduates and peers as one of the nation’s leading medical programs.
Ohio State’s innovative Lead.Serve.Inspire curriculum is a three-part, four-year program that fully integrates basic science
learned in the classroom with clinical science applied in the patient care arena. A competency-based framework combined
with medical knowledge, procedural skill development and early patient practice ensures that Ohio State’s graduates are
prepared to provide excellent, patient-centered health care to diverse populations.
Ohio State students receive early clinical experience taking care of patients in the program’s first eight weeks, practicing
how to take vital signs, give injections, draw blood and do EKGs.
First-year students are assigned to a clinic in week nine—going one day every other week for two years. As members of the
healthcare team, Ohio State medical students serve as a vital part of the clinic, getting to know our doctors, nursing staff
and technicians, and considering our patients as their own.
Progressing through the curriculum leads to an understanding of patients with specialized medical needs, reproductive
and surgical needs, and those within special, vulnerable populations, such as victims of abuse, addiction, poverty and low
literacy.
Any academic environment that seeks to inspire, as well as educate, must be
inclusive of persons from all walks of life. This is certainly true at The Ohio
State University College of Medicine, which actively supports the university’s
LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community through both the
dedicated student group GLBT Issues in Medicine, and the OSUWMC LGBT
Diversity Network. Through these groups, faculty, staff and students meet to
provide a forum for personal and professional development, foster a culture of
inclusiveness and increase Ohio State’s outreach and engagement with the local
LGBT community. Such activities enrich and enhance the lives of all persons.”
— John Davis, MD, PhD,
Associate Dean for Medical Education,
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
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Ohio State is creating the future of medicine through . . .
A SUPPORTIVE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT
We at Ohio State’s College of Medicine know that a diverse class promotes
cultural awareness and understanding and creates an appreciation for the
importance of producing physicians who can better serve a diverse community.
Of the 192 students in Ohio State’s 2014 entering class, 37 (19 percent) are
under-represented in medicine and 97 (51 percent) are women. In addition, the
2014 entering class comprises students ranging in age from 20 to 42 with 76
different majors from 87 separate academic institutions.
“The importance of diversity and inclusion is
significant, I believe, now more than ever. We
are all living in a global society where what we
do and say has an impact on others. Embracing
and understanding differences as they relate
to one’s abilities, gender, culture, ethnicity,
socioeconomic and educational experiences,
to name a few, go a long way toward peace and
harmony that sometimes eludes our global,
national and local communities.”
— Valerie Blackwell-Truitt
Director, Office for Diversity and Inclusion
2014 Applicant Profile Numbers
Total College of Medicine Applications.........5,476
The College’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion supports the needs and
interests of URM students through services and enrichment programs that
help qualified students from all backgrounds realize their dream of becoming
physicians and making their medical school experience personally and
professionally rewarding.
Services offered by the Office for Diversity and Inclusion include career
counseling, student advocacy and assistance with scholarships and grants for
which students may be eligible. The office supports educational experiences
promote personal growth and cultural sensitivity by providing assistance on
travel expenses to professional conferences and matching students with
mentors who are compatible with their individual professional goals and unique
cultural background.
The office oversees several pipeline programs to encourage greater diversity
in the medical school. One such program is through the Medical Careers
Pathway (MEDPATH) Post Baccalaureate Program, a one-year program aimed
at increasing the number of underrepresented minorities and students from
socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds entering medical school.
In addition, DISCOVERY PREP, a Post-Baccalaureate Research Education
Program funded through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aims to increase
the number of PhD graduates who are underrepresented in the biomedical
sciences. Furthermore, the SUCCESS Program (Summer Undergraduate Course
Creating Excellence in Scientific Study), seeks to enhance and foster diversity
among MD/PhD (Medical Scientist Training Program) students.
Total acceptances.................................................... 382
Total class size........................................................... 192
Men in class..................................................................95
Women in class............................................................97
Underrepresented in medicine.............................. 37
Age range.......................................................... 20 to 42
Academic majors.........................................................76
Academic institutions................................................. 87
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An additional pipeline program is the Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting
Student Program for Medical Students, which provides a scholarship for
underrepresented medical students to perform visiting rotations at the many
locations partnering with the Wexner Medical Center and The Ohio State
University College of Medicine.
The college’s annual MD Camp program encourages high school students and
recent high school graduates to sample medical school life through its threeweek summer camp program. MD Camp strives to inspire students to pursue a
career in medicine by challenging them intellectually, facilitating their academic
and social development and increasing their awareness of the special needs of
underserved populations.
The College of Medicine’s Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Region Va
is a vital component of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion. It receives funding
from the Ohio Legislature to increase the availability of healthcare professionals
and improve access to quality health care in Ohio. The mission is accomplished
through academic and community collaboration, by emphasizing primary care
and by focusing on underserved areas. While working collaboratively on many
state-wide initiatives, each AHEC Region in Ohio, depending on local needs
and resources, has developed unique programs to carry out the mission of
improving health care in the communities served. Featured Region Va AHEC
initiatives include the Clear Health Communication, Community-Based Teaching
and AHEC Grant programs.
“MD Camp provides a truly unique opportunity
for high school students to explore their
interests in medicine and science and to
develop mentoring relationships with current
medical students at Ohio State. We hope to
inspire these young students by challenging
them academically, facilitating their academic
and social development and increasing their
awareness of the special needs of underserved
populations.”
— Anne Owens, Class of 2017
Ohio State Medical Student, 2014 MD Camp
Director
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Ohio State is creating the future of medicine through . . .
COMMUNITY SERVICE
As a medical student at Ohio State, you will develop the competence to
provide outstanding care to diverse patient populations. In the clinical
setting, you will encounter patients who are from urban or rural areas, who
are wealthy, poor, young, elderly, Christian, Hindu, Jewish or Muslim. You
might see patients from developing countries and various ethnic groups,
patients who do not speak English or who are part of a non-traditional
family. Or you might practice in clinics that serve Latina/o or Asian patients,
in retirement centers that serve geriatric patients, or at Ohio State’s
University Hospital East, which is located in a local underserved area.
Columbus Free Clinic
The Columbus Free Clinic, which provides free health care to more than
1,200 underserved patients in the University neighborhood each year, is
run by Ohio State medical students and supervised by volunteer Ohio State
physicians. It has been providing free medical services for more than 20
years. The patient population served by the clinic is diverse, consisting of
uninsured patients who come to the clinic for routine medical care, patients
who are seeking a job or starting school and need physicals and patients
who are underinsured for the medical services or medications they need.
“Diversity at Ohio State helps instill
in new physicians a desire to make a
difference in the health care and lives
Other Clinics
of underserved populations and with
La Clinica Latina is a free, full-service health clinic for Spanish-speaking
individuals. It provides ongoing health care, including gynecological care
for women. The Asian Health Initiative Free Clinic serves the needs of
the Asian community through ongoing health care. The Physicians Care
Connection Free Clinic, an affiliated organization of the Columbus Medical
Association, is the largest provider of free episodic and specialty health
care in Franklin County. And serving the Muslim community is the Noor
Community Clinic, which provides routine medical care and physical
examinations, treatment for non-emergency illnesses, screenings for
diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and STDs, and health education
services.
the purpose of decreasing healthcare
inequality across the country. The
diverse student body and the close
relationships I have with students from
backgrounds unlike my own have also
helped me to communicate better with
patients of different races, ethnicities and
socioeconomic status.”
— Joshua Payne, Class of 2016
Ohio State Medical Student
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Ohio State is creating the future of medicine through . . .
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Ohio State University Medical Student Organizations
The College of Medicine supports student groups which are part of their
respective national organizations. Some students represent Ohio State at the
national level by serving as officers in these organizations. Students who attend
national conferences representing Ohio State often bring back fresh ideas and
activities.
The Student National
Medical Association
The Student National Medical
Association (SNMA) at The Ohio
State University was established in
1964 to support underrepresented
minority medical students, address the
needs of underserved communities
and increase the number of clinically
excellent, culturally competent and
socially conscious physicians. The
SNMA promotes the professional
development of its members by
providing underrepresented minority
(URM) pre-health students with
knowledge, skills and experiences that
are both prerequisite and concomitant
to professional participation in the
healthcare industry.
The Ohio State University College of Medicine sponsors a variety of student
organizations that promote activities from networking to volunteering to simple
good fellowship. Among those geared toward diverse groups are the following:
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Student National Medical Association
Aprovechando Salud y Educacion (Embracing Health and Education)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Issues in Medicine
Latino Medical Student Association at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association
Jewish Medical Student Interest Group
Islamic Professional Student Association
Physicians for Human Rights
Women in Medicine
View the entire list at
www.medicine.osu.edu/students/life/organizations/pages/index.aspx
Diversity at Ohio State
The leadership of The Ohio State University has consistently and strongly
supported and defended the value of diversity in promoting excellence in
education, from the adoption of the Diversity Action Plan in 2001 through the
present. Academic departments and colleges, as well as non-academic units,
have advocated for diversity and sought to implement it thoughtfully in their
programs. (Diversity Action Plan: www.osu.edu/diversityplan/index.php)
“Although minority groups contribute significantly to the growth of the nation,
they tend to have less access to health care. Ohio State’s College of Medicine
has taken as one of its more important missions to address the shortage of
physicians who are underrepresented in medicine by aggressively recruiting
and training talented minorities.”
—Miguel A. Villalona-Calero, MD
Director, Medical Oncology Dorothy M. Davis Chair in Cancer Research
Professor, Internal Medicine and Pharmacology
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Ohio State is creating the future of medicine through . . .
A COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
Our Diversity Mission
The mission of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is to improve
people’s lives through innovation in research, education and patient care.
Diversity is central to thes academic medical center mission and serves as a
driver of institutional excellence.
We celebrate and learn from our diversity, and we value individual differences.
We see diversity as the uniqueness each of us brings to achieving our shared
mission and goals. We recognize and value the different perspectives,
characteristics, experiences and attributes of each individual in creating an
environment where we thrive on and benefit from our differences. A diverse
culture optimizes the ability of Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center to provide
innovative and evidence-based health care personalized for each individual
by supporting a greater understanding and appreciation for each individual’s
genetic makeup, behavior, experience and beliefs.
“When I chose The Ohio State University,
I chose it for several reasons. The first reason
is its reputation—not for football, as good as
that is—but its sterling reputation as a center
of quality learning. I wanted to make sure the
Our Diversity Vision
university I attended had the tools available to
Diversity optimizes educational outcomes for healthcare professionals, trainees,
researchers and patients at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, and supports
the academic medical center mission. The education component of this
mission has adopted a vision of transforming health care by educating leaders
for the health professions. The key strategies used to accomplish this vision
are fostering curricular innovation to develop measurably excellent health
professionals, enhancing the culture of humanism and professionalism to
support relationship-centered care and rewarding teaching excellence to
ensure that the students who graduate from The Ohio State University College
of Medicine are capable of meeting the healthcare, wellness and biomedical
research needs of a diverse community. We recognize diversity as relating to
race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation
and disability.
assist me in learning what was needed to take
me wherever I chose to go in life. And second,
I chose Ohio State because of its diversity of
students, faculty and thought. Ohio State had
and still has a proven record of addressing the
needs of all its students, especially its minority
students.
The Ohio State University is a first-class,
world-renowned university, which doesn’t
“just happen.” Ohio State had to actively
take steps to cultivate a student population
from all over the world. This international
orientation brings to Ohio State both a wealth
of information and a rich and culturally
diverse outlook, which means the knowledge
I gained I learned not only in the classroom,
but through the relationships that I developed,
both with professors and with fellow students.
That unique, positive and culturally diverse
education is something that has continuously
helped me as I have progressed through
the different phases of my professional and
personal life.”
— Alvin D. Jackson, MD ’89
Chairman, Board of Directors,
The Willow Hill Heritage and
Renaissance Center
Former Director, Ohio Department
of Health (2007-2011)
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Ohio State is creating the future of medicine through . . .
A STRONG ALUMNI NETWORK
The Ohio State University College of Medicine alumni network consists
of more than 14,000 individuals who live and practice in every county of
the state, in every state in the union and in more than 100 countries in
the world. When students become members of Ohio State’s College of
Medicine community, they join a proud family of physicians who make a
difference in people’s lives every day and who are on the cutting edge
of advances in research, patient care and education.
The Ohio State University College of Medicine Alumni Affairs Office
promotes fellowship among alumni and sponsors events and programs
that support the educational mission of the college. Medical students
interact and engage with College of Medicine alumni through studentalumni events such as alumni receptions, professional development
presentations, sporting events and more.
Ranking among the college’s most honored
alumni is Clotilde Dent Bowen, MD ’47, the
first African-American female to graduate
from The Ohio State University College of
Medicine. Dr. Bowen was the first black
female physician in the United States
Army, the first black woman to attain the
rank of colonel, the first to command a
military hospital clinic and the first to be
named chief of psychiatry in two Veterans
Administration hospitals and two Army
medical centers. She was awarded the
As part of the 2013 Ohio State Medical Alumni Reunion, students and alumni
gathered for the Fourth Annual Celebration of Alumni and Students breakfast.
The event included presentations by college leaders, keynote speaker David
Hamlar, MD ’86, and a tribute to Clotilde Bowen, MD ‘47, first African-American
woman graduate of Ohio State’s College of Medicine. Alumni interested in
getting more involved with the college and alumni-student initiatives are
encouraged to contact the College of Medicine Alumni Affairs Office at
614-366-1642 or [email protected].
Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit in 1971
for her work in establishing drug treatment
centers and for her efforts in lessening
racial conflicts in the military during the
Vietnam War. In 1974 she was awarded the
Meritorious Service Medal.
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ABOUT COLUMBUS
Columbus, Ohio is the fifteenth largest city in the United States, with a metropolitan population of over 1.75 million people.
More than 30 percent of the population represents people of color and includes people from 134 nations, speaking 105
languages. Columbus’s Somalian community is the second largest in the United States.
Accordingly, Columbus offers a diverse range of cultural and artistic events, sports, restaurants festivals and more—all
within close proximity to The Ohio State University campus.
For those interested in music and dance, The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, BalletMet,
and Opera/Columbus are regionally renowned. Art lovers will appreciate the collections and exhibits displayed at
Ohio State’s Wexner Center for the Arts, the Columbus Museum of Art, and galleries in several Columbus arts districts,
including the Gateway and Short North, which also feature specialty boutiques, antiques shops and eateries located in
the University district. The Short North is one of Columbus’s historic neighborhoods, which also includes German Village,
Victorian Village, Italian Village and Olde Town East. Other annual neighborhood festivities include Oktoberfest in German
Village, Irish Festival in Dublin, and the Jazz and Rib Fest in downtown Columbus.
The Franklin Park Conservatory, Ohio’s Center of Science and Industry, the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion and the
nation’s number one ranked Columbus Zoo offer additional leisure activities. Theater, popular music and nightclubs are
also readily available. Columbus is known for its fine dining, craft beverages and eclectic food carts.
Now in its 58th year, the Columbus International Festival celebrates cultural diversity by bringing global arts and crafts,
ethnic foods, live performances and more to central Ohioans.
Nature lovers have easy access to some of the most breathtaking parks and scenic rivers in the Midwest, offering hiking,
camping, biking and boating activities. Nearby glacier-carved gorges, waterfalls and towering cliffs allow exploration
of the area’s natural wonders, including Hocking Hills State Park, located just an hour away in the foothills of the
Appalachian Mountains.
In addition to Ohio State Buckeye football, sports fans can enjoy the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, the Columbus Crew
men’s professional soccer team and Columbus Clippers baseball. The PGA Memorial Golf Tournament is held annually at
Jack Nicklaus’s world-class Muirfield Golf Course and each fall thousands run the Columbus Marathon.
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Quinn Capers IV, MD
Associate Dean for Admissions
The Ohio State University
College of Medicine
Georgia Paletta, MA
Director of Admissions
The Ohio State University
College of Medicine
A MESSAGE FROM ADMISSIONS
We strive for a diverse student body at The Ohio State University College of Medicine for several
reasons. We believe that to produce leaders in the medical profession, we must graduate physicians
who are prepared to care for all of the world’s citizens. Diverse communities will benefit from cuttingedge research when physician scientists come from a variety of backgrounds. Finally, we firmly
believe that one tactic to eliminate healthcare disparities is to educate a diverse physician workforce.
Come join us. We look forward to receiving your application.
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Office for Diversity and inclusion
061 Meiling Hall
370 W. 9th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
614-688-8489
[email protected]
medicine.osu.edu/students/diversity
©2014 The Ohio State University College of Medicine COMD20140098
Office of Admissions
155D Meiling Hall
370 W. 9th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
614-292-7137