Diversity doesn’t just happen; to make it real and relevant, it requires champions. This spring the DMU office of multicultural affairs recognized students, faculty, staff, a community member and an organization as Diversity Champions for demonstrating an ongoing commitment to the ideals of inclusiveness.
Richard Salas, Ph.D., DMU’s multicultural affairs director, in the front row at left in the photo above, stands with some of the inaugural award recipients: front row, April Newton, D.P.T., director of clinical education for physical therapy; Karyn Liebsch, D.O.’16; Maggie Doe, D.O.’16; Ben Rezny, D.O.’16; Kenice Frank, D.P.M.’16; and Pamela Duffy, P.T., Ph.D., M.Ed., OCS, RP, FAPTA, assistant professor of public health; back row, Jerry Parker, Ph.D., director of student services and engagement; James Mahoney, D.P.M., associate professor of podiatric medicine and surgery; community member Joseph Freund, M.D.; and organization representatives Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel and Donna Redwing, One Iowa. Recipients not pictured were Ebonie Vincent, D.P.M.’15; Grace Ouyang, D.P.M.’15; and Kelli Olson, clerkship coordinator, College of Osteopathic Medicine clinical affairs.
The awards were presented on May 7 at the conclusion of the past year’s Diversity Health Series, sessions developed by Kaiser Permanente that explore different cultures in the context of health care. Approximately 300 students, faculty and staff have participated in the eight-session series since DMU began offering it in February 2013.