Mission Statement
The Vanderbilt Eye Institute is committed to enhancing and fostering a culture that fosters the engagement, training, promotion, and retention of diverse faculty, scientists, staff, and trainees.
We seek, with your help, to educate ourselves and our community through initiatives such as developing cultural competency, evolving from bystanders to upstanders, raising awareness of unconscious bias, and providing up-to-date information about disparities so that we can work together to overcome them and meet the needs of our diverse patient population (e.g. race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, education level, socioeconomic status, and disability).
Diversity refers to all aspects of human difference, social identities, and social group differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, socio-economic status, language, culture, national origin, religion/spirituality, age, (dis)ability, and military/veteran status, political perspective, and associational preferences.
Equity refers to fair and just practices and policies that ensure all community members can thrive. Being equitable means acknowledging and addressing structural inequalities — historic and current — that advantage some and disadvantage others. Equal treatment results in equity only if everyone starts with equal access to opportunities.
Inclusion refers to a community where all members are respected, have a sense of belonging, and can participate and achieve their potential.
Invitation to Provide Comments
We at VEI appreciate everyone’s perspective and observations on what we can change or do better to achieve a more equitable and inclusive institute and promote the career of diverse trainees and staff. Please consider providing your voice and leaving a comment or suggestion for us to consider at our next DEI meeting.
Please take our survey and provide feedback.
DEI Task Force & Members
The Task Force for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a group at VEI working to provide opportunities for all members of the VEI community to participate in creating meaningful representation for every group. We hope you will join us in our formal efforts and informally in how you work, teach, learn, and serve.