NSU College of Dental Medicine host Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awareness Week

Last month, the NSU College of Dental Medicine’s Humanism and Diversity Committee honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and dedicated January 18-22, 2021 to “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awareness.” The goal of this week was to help emphasize the importance of maintaining and enhancing humanism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to provide educational information and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff members to get involved.

As part of this initiative, the Committee released its first eNewsletter and hung a “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” pledge banner at the entrance to the College of Dental Medicine. The banner was signed by students, faculty, and staff including Steven I. Kaltman, D.D.S., dean of the College of Dental Medicine. Signatures demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and a humanistic environment.

The Committee also held a Diversity Essay Contest, to increase awareness, promote understanding, and engage students in a discussion about how to foster diversity and inclusion within the dental community. This year’s essay winner was Krisha Amin, a third-year dental student. She was presented with a $500 check from Dean Kaltman, Hal Lippman, D.D.S., executive associate dean of operations for the College of Dental Medicine, and Aryia Amini, D.M.D., chair for the Humanism and Diversity Committee at the college.

The College of Dental Medicine also sponsored three students to participate in the annual ADEA Virtual Student Diversity Leadership Program (ADEA SDLP): Soline Pierre-Gilles, a first-year student, Zan Chaudhary, a second-year student, and Farina Shariati, a third-year student. As stated on their website, the ADEA SDLP “assists participants in the development of leadership skills so that they can better serve as leaders of inclusive excellence within their dental schools and allied programs and engage fully in a culturally competent complex global society.”