The recent graduation ceremonies for our medical students were certainly different this year. The usual cheering and other outbursts were muffled by masks worn at some graduation exercises, while sporadic loud yells (or shouts) of excitement pierced through the masks at other ceremonies. Some attendees screamed, clapped, and whistled –– despite instructions to maintain a solemn demeanor until the designated time.
To Be or Not to Be Silent: A Message from Dr. Myrna Alexander Nickens, Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion in the Department of Medicine.
Congratulations to many members of the Department who were recognized with nominations for Pillars Awards this year. The Pillars Recognition of Service and Inclusive Excellence Awards acknowledge the work of faculty and trainees who work to further diversity and a “climate of inclusion” at UMMC and within the surrounding community.
This committee was created in 2018 and is chaired by Dr. Myrna Alexander Nickens, Professor of Medicine and the first female interventional cardiologist in Mississippi. All of us who serve on the committee do so because we believe in our mission and vision of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our department, institution, and state. We aim to achieve this with varying methods and will be implementing several initiatives over the coming year.
