Inclusive Excellence

Our Purpose

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PLM) seeks to cultivate an atmosphere and culture that supports the Office of Inclusive Excellence in all mission areas – patient care, research, education and service. Our dedicated and passionate inclusive excellence Co-Chairs and Program Managers work with our diverse PLM Inclusive Excellence Committee to continuously assess, evaluate and, as needed, improve areas within PLM so that our Office of Inclusive Excellence values align with our department practices and the experiences of our employees.

Explore Our Inclusive Excellence Initiatives

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The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PLM) is deeply committed to advancing inclusive excellence across all facets of our work. Our efforts, within the School of Medicine, are guided by our Inclusive Excellence Plan, a strategic roadmap to advance health equity by focusing on our people, climate, structural elements, professional development/education, community engagement, and patient care. Grounded in our Cultural North Star values of doing what’s right, making things better, and being kind, the Inclusive Excellence Plan outlines a comprehensive approach to building an inclusive environment. Below is a summary of our goals for each Inclusive Excellence Plan component.

PLM, like all UCLA Health departments, reviews our Inclusive Excellence Plan annually with the Dean’s Office. More information on the DGSOM Inclusive Excellence Plan, please visit their dedicated website(Link is external) (Link opens in new window).

: Goal: We aim to create a workforce reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve. This year, we will analyze staff demographics, identify gaps, and develop data-driven strategies, establishing interdisciplinary subcommittees to enhance diversity and inclusion.
How to Help: Help us understand how our workforce does or does not reflect the demographics of our communities, and create strategies to improve diversity as needed.
: Goal: We are dedicated to fostering a department culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and treated fairly. By using focus groups and data analysis, we will identify areas for improvement and implement targeted interventions to ensure a welcoming and supportive environment.
How to Help: Help ensure our Department has a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment by offering your input and working on needed changes.
: Goal: We are refining departmental processes to enhance diversity, particularly in resident recruitment and staff onboarding. This includes improving our holistic review process and incorporating inclusive excellence principles into onboarding and structured check-ins.
How to Help: Assist in refining our recruitment, onboarding, and retention processes for staff and trainees to ensure we attract and retain diverse talent.
: Goal: We are enhancing access to EDI-focused education and professional development. This year, we will assess current inclusive excellence awareness and offer tailored learning experiences to empower employees to foster a more inclusive workplace.
How to Help: Create inclusive excellence-focused educational opportunities and help improve our understanding of what inclusive excellence education our employees would like.
: Goal: We are expanding exposure to medical careers and staff recruitment pathways, strengthening partnerships like the UCLA-Turner Allied Health Internship Program, and engaging underrepresented communities in our field.
How to Help: Contribute to expanding the recruitment pathways into Pathology with our community partners.
: Goal: We are committed to creating a more equitable healthcare environment by addressing potential disparities in patient care. This includes collaborating with our Quality Improvement and Laboratory Stewardship programs to identify and implement projects that advance health equity. Additionally, we are working to diversify our blood donor population to ensure equitable care for all.
How to Help: Collaborate with us to address disparities in patient care and work towards equitable healthcare for all.

Sign up here to be a part of our Inclusive Excellence Journey!(Link is external) (Link opens in new window)

Upcoming Inclusive Excellence Events

Grand Rounds

Friday, January 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM PT – Virtual
Damon Tweedy, MD
Professor of Psychiatry, Duke University School of Medicine
Staff Physician, Durham Veteran Affairs Health System

Friday, March 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM PT – Virtual
Krystal Tsosie (Diné/Navajo Nation), PhD, MPH, MA
Assistant Professor at School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University
Affiliated Faculty at School of Human Evolution and Social Change,
School of Life Sciences Human Dimensions

For our complete list of upcoming Grand Rounds events, please visit our dedicated webpage(Link opens in new window).

Book Club

For the next phase of our “Empowering Harmonious Futures” journey, we are excited to announce our upcoming book club! We will dive deeper into Dr. Melanie Ho’s book, Beyond Leaning In,(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) exploring actionable steps to navigate workplace challenges and redefine leadership through collaboration, allyship, and innovation.

Sign Up to be a part of this enriching discussion!(Link is external) (Link opens in new window)

Resources

For those who could not attend the workshops with Dr. Melanie Ho, you can watch them at your convenience using the links below:

Workshop 1 – “Drawing Out Inclusive Excellence: Exploring Bias, Allyship, and Systemic Change”(Link is external) (Link opens in new window)
- Uncover and address biases within our institution to break down unseen barriers, fostering open Office of Inclusive Excellence discussions and developing actionable plans for systemic change.
Workshop 2 – “The Water We Swim In: Unmasking and Transforming Workplace Norms”(Link is external) (Link opens in new window)
- Explore organizational culture to uncover subtle biases in workplace norms, enhance your allyship with advanced Office of Inclusive Excellence strategies, and create a roadmap for continuous learning.
Workshop 3 – “From Confrontation to Collaboration: Leading through Conflict and Uncertainty”(Link is external) (Link opens in new window)
- Navigate uncertainty with effective communication, develop strategies for organizational alignment, and turn challenges into opportunities for growth.