Speaker
Afra Smith
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant in the School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health
Afra Smith, M.B.A., is a diversity, equity & inclusion consultant at the UW–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health. In her role, she helps to support employee resources groups and provides support sessions for providers and staff who identify as Black, Indigenous, and other people of color and LGBTQ+ to share their experiences at work. These experiences are often related to bias, discrimination and disrespect. In addition, Smith acts as a consultant to leaders who have questions and need to consult regarding these shared experiences.
Speaking in
Racism? Not in Our House!
In October 2021, UW–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) and UW Health embarked on a new journey together, establishing a multifunctional SMPH Office of Diversity & Equity Transformation integrated with the existing UW Health Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. This effort facilitates alignment and progress in areas such as learning and education, faculty and staff support, equity in systems, policies and processes, support for basic science departments and their training programs, and programmatic accountability.
This session will provide insights into how the role of the Office of Diversity & Equity Transformation, serving both SMPH and UW Health, has aimed to be (1) targeted with focusing on specific strategies that are integrated and aligned across the organization to allow intentional systemic change; (2) streamlined through breaking down siloed work and connecting across the system to develop strategic and transformative approaches; and (3) impactful with placing organizational attention in key areas including advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts that engage staff, and actions to advance DEI in the basic science departments, institutes, centers, and programs.