HISTORY
The Anti-Racism Coalition (ARC), housed within the SMHS Office of Diversity and Inclusion, was conceived from a grassroots discussion after the death of George Floyd. As Dean Yolanda Haywood was writing an email to Barbara Bass, MD, RESD ’86, vice president for health affairs, dean of SMHS, and CEO of The GW Medical Faculty Associates, to suggest they create the Anti-Racism Coalition, Bass was writing an email to Haywood to suggest forming a group. ARC was formed consisting of the Executive Advisory Committee and Steering Committee focusing on four pillars of anti-racism work:
- Individual: Understanding what racism is and what part we play as individuals when it comes to racist behaviors;
- Interpersonal: Being aware of how we interact with other people and our microaggressions, as well as our role as bystanders, so racist behaviors are no longer ignored in interpersonal gatherings;
- Institutional: Supporting policies and procedures that foster anti-racism in our community;
- Structural: Influencing national and local policies through voting and advocacy.
Through ARC, The medical faculty, staff, scientific educators, and a broad array of learners at The George Washington School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS), the GW Hospital, and the GW Medical Faculty Associates (MFA) have implemented a multifaceted plan since June 2020, actively supported by and engaged with our executive leadership and working members at all levels, to identify, educate and eradicate all forms of racism in our educational processes, working environments and operational procedures. Our multidisciplinary Anti-Racism Coalition (ARC) comprises integrated teams of basic sciences, research, community-based medicine, hospital-based medicine, surgical and nonsurgical domains, pediatrics, health sciences, academic leadership, training/development/education, students, and administrative and professional staff.
Co-Chairs
Dr. Yolanda C. Haywood serves as co-chair of the GW Anti-Racism Coalition. She is the Senior Associate Dean for Diversity & Faculty Affairs (Interim), Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Haywood graduated from the GW physician assistant program and completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at The George Washington University. She is a proud native Washingtonian, and she, too, brings personal and professional narratives regarding the impact of racial biases on individuals, organizations, and institutions.
Dr. Karen Stanley Williams serves as co-chair of the GW Anti-Racism Coalition. She is a retired Associate Professor of Anesthesiology from the SMHS and MFA. Her leadership experiences have included managing anesthesia departments at the National Institutes of Health and St. Agnes Healthcare and many appointments within the nationally recognized American Society of Anesthesiology. As an African American native of Washington, DC, she brings personal and professional narratives regarding the impact of racial biases on individuals, organizations, and institutions.
ARC Core Team
- Dr. Grace E. Henry serves as lead process manager of the GW Anti-Racism Coalition. She is the Assistant Dean and Director for the SMHS Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
- Jalina Booker serves as process manager of the GW Anti-Racism Coalition. She is the Diversity Officer and Program Associate for the SMHS Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Executive Advisory Members
- Dr. Barbara Bass, VP & Dean GW SMHS & CEO MFA
- Dr. Denice Cora-Bramble, CMO & EVP, Ambulatory and Community Health Services, CNH
- Ben Riestra, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, GW Medical Faculty Associates
- Kim Russo, MBA, MS, CEO, GWU Hospital
- Dr. Steven Teach, Assoc. Dean, Pediatric Academic Affairs; Chair, Dept. of Pediatrics, CNH
Departments with Equity Directors on the ARC Guiding Coalition
- Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Anesthesiology
- Biochemistry
- Biomedical & Laboratory Sciences
- Clinical Research & Leadership
- Dermatology
- Emergency Medicine
- Health, Human Function & Rehabilitation Sciences
- Medicine
- Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine
- Neurosurgery
- OBGYN
- Physician Assistant (PA)
- Pathology
- Pediatrics
- Pharm. Physiology
- Surgery