Martin Were, MD, MS, professor of Biomedical Informatics and Medicine, has been named as the inaugural vice chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
This new position reflects DBMI’s recognition of the importance of and commitment to DEI across all of the department’s efforts. The establishment of this role is also responsive to the call to action as outlined in the VUMC Racial Equity Plan, led by Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI, Senior Vice President and Senior Associate Dean for Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence and Professor of Medicine at VUMC. Released on May 4, 2022, the plan outlines goals, actions, accountability and milestones for advancing racial equity and confronting structural racism at VUMC and VUSM.