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Learning Opportunities
Inclusion Academy
Penn State Health and College of Medicine has established an Inclusion Academy for students, and all employees, including human resources professionals, managers and supervisors and those with patient care responsibility.
Hershey All Things Diversity
Penn State Health partners with local organizations to provide information on different aspects of diversity and inclusion. The program, Hershey All Things Diversity, is coordinated by the Derry Township municipality in conjunction with the Hershey Story Museum and with support from Penn State Health, Hershey Company, and Hershey Entertainment and Resorts. Educational sessions are held every other month and focus on a broad range of diversity-related topics.
Explore Diversity Training ResourcesAwards and Funding Opportunities
Penn State Health and College of Medicine take pride in efforts to be recognized as "best in class" for commitment to diversity and inclusion for students, its workforce, and patients. In addition to organizational recognitions, Penn State Health and College of Medicine, through the Campus Council on Diversity and Inclusion, recognize individuals who have advanced the organization’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Current Students
Diverse Student Groups
Students have an opportunity to connect with others through a number of diverse student groups such as the Student National Medical Association, Latino and Amigos Medical Student Association, Military Medical Interest Group, Penn State COM Pride for LGBT students and allies, students with disabilities, graduate students, or the Multicultural Awareness Club.
Each of these organizations hosts educational and social events throughout the year.
Click or touch each group's name to learn more about its mission, activities, leadership and membership.
- American Medical Women’s Association
- Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association
- Disability Advocacy and Awareness Group
- Diverse Graduate Student Group
- Graduate Women in Science
- Jewish Union of Medical Professionals
- Latino Medical Student Association
- Multicultural Awareness Club
- Military Medicine Interest Group
- Student Veterans of America
- Muslim Student Association
- Penn State College of Medicine PULSE
- Sexual and Gender Minority Alliance
- Student National Medical Association
Diverse Student Champion Program
Penn State College of Medicine’s Office for Diversity, Equity and Belonging has launched the Diverse Student Champion Program, which pairs students considered Underrepresented in Medicine (UiM) with diverse mentors (“champions”).
Through these pairings, the Champion Program provides an opportunity for students to learn from distinguished College of Medicine alumni and faculty members, as well as clinicians and researchers on our campus. Students will benefit from this supportive relationship by sharing successes and challenges unique to diverse learners in the medical community, strengthening their career networks, and receiving guidance about their educational paths.
Faculty and students interested in learning more about the Diverse Student Champion Program may contact the Office for Diversity, Equity and Belonging.
Current Residents and Fellows
Network of Under-represented Residents and Fellows (NURF)
Penn State College of Medicine is also working to increase the diversity of its graduate student population and its residents. Recently, the college established the Network of Under-represented Residents and Fellows (NURF) to provide an opportunity for diverse residents and fellows to network and build a sense of community.
Faculty and Staff
Resources for Faculty and Staff
Details on these and other specific diversity resources for faculty and staff at Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine are available on the Faculty and Staff website.
Find Your Connection
As part of its focus on diversity and inclusion, Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine are committed to providing a sense of community for its workforce, students, and patients and their families. As a result, there are numerous opportunities, both on and off its campus, for individuals to connect with others from the same or totally different backgrounds.
Affinity Groups
Faculty and staff can join an affinity resource/network group that focuses on the interest and identities of individuals with various aspects of diversity. These affinity resource/network groups support recruiting efforts, contribute to creating an inclusive work environment, and identify strategies for an extraordinary patient experience for diverse patients.
Advocacy and Research Opportunities
Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine's academic programs are enriched by faculty and researchers who look at the challenges and disparities faced by underrepresented populations.
They also study the impact of diversity on social and institutional situations affecting health and wellness.
Penn State Health's research provides an opportunity for dialogue on important diversity related health disparity issues and serves as an important global resource for leading-edge examination of the dynamics of health and social, cultural, structural and institutional differences.
Support the Diversity Pipeline
Diversity pipeline programs are structured experiences for students from underrepresented backgrounds in grades K-12 and undergraduate programs that spark interest in pursuing careers in medicine. There are many ways to support our diversity pipeline programs, from speaking engagements and lectures to hosting clinic tours and shadowing opportunities. Click here to share your interest – our program director will follow up with more information.
If you wish to make a financial contribution to support pipeline programs please contact Tiffany Brandt-Thomas at tbrandtthomas@pennstatehealth.psu.edu. If you would like to make an impact by supporting students through our Educational Equity scholarships visit engage.pennstatehealth.org/EdEquity.