Enhancing Faculty Diversity: Insights from a Lerner College of Medicine Action Group

Studies have shown that having a physician with a similar racial or ethnic background can make a big difference for a patient, increasing their satisfaction, shared decision making and overall communication. In keeping with this understanding, Cleveland Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University (CCLCM) are dedicated to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion across education and healthcare and within our communities. Within the learning environment, creating a place where students and faculty can connect with people who embody a rich array of backgrounds and perspectives helps everyone to thrive.

The CCLCM Faculty Recruitment, Retention, and Teaching Action Group — one of its 9 DEI action groups — is dedicated to continuing to increase the number of women and minorities in upper academic faculty ranks. The group’s goals are centered around increasing the visibility of minority faculty, encouraging Cleveland Clinic physicians and its residents and fellows to engage with CCLCM students and ensuring that minority students and faculty are adequately represented on all CCLCM platforms.

Jennifer Kambies, Director of Special Initiatives within the Cleveland Clinic Office of Physician Recruitment, and Kathryn Martinez, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, serve as faculty co-leads.

“The group received a Cleveland Clinic Catalyst Grant that allowed us to amplify the achievements of our varied faculty, residents, fellows and students who identify as being underrepresented in medicine, creating meaningful connections and opportunities for career advancement,” said Jennifer.

The grant supported initiatives such as email blasts highlighting faculty achievements and networking events for underrepresented in medicine, or URiM, physicians who are interested in faculty roles and promotions.

The group’s recent success led to another Catalyst Grant that will be used to address challenges faced by faculty on their journey toward promotion. The group plans to host networking events and provide mentoring opportunities to support these faculty members in crafting successful promotion packets. The group members are actively working on new communication strategies such as email communications to new Cleveland Clinic staff and orientation sessions to provide information about faculty roles and opportunities.

“I’m really proud of the group for receiving two Catalyst Grants so far,” says Dr. Martinez. “Our committee really needed to do some planning and put in some thought around how to execute our mission in a way that that was measurable, fundable and time bound. Receiving that second catalyst grant will help make a huge impact for the group.”

Dr. Martinez describes ongoing efforts to understand retention factors for URiM residents, fellows and CCLCM students including a survey to gather data. The group intends to use insights from the survey to design future programs that will improve diversity across the Cleveland Clinic enterprise.

If you’re interested in helping to support this group’s mission, please contact kambiej@ccf.org or martink12@ccf.org. Learn more about CCLCM’s DEI efforts.