Where do
we go
from here?

School of Dentistry - Dan Walker

In 2018, Dan worked closely with another student in their class to found iDENTity, a registered student organization focused on promoting and supporting the LGBTQ+ community in dentistry.  The group has organized several successful interprofessional panels aimed at increasing understanding around issues faced by trans and non-binary persons in healthcare. Dan and the iDENTity leadership team have been working closely with our Office of Educational Partnerships and Diversity (OEPD) to organize outreach events at local LGBTQ+ community organizations in order to provide free dental services to those served by these organizations. Dan also frequently volunteers as a mentor in our pipeline programs aimed at encouraging under-represented youth to pursue careers in the health professions.

Dan has been an effective leader and advocate for the needs of non-binary individuals both locally and nationally. Dan has worked hard to be inclusive. They have sought to build understanding and create allies among faculty, students, staff, and administration, both within and outside of dentistry. Dan readily steps forward to lead, and also readily seeks out partnerships with others to make progress.

School of Medicine - Seeds of BAMM

Seeds of BAMM is a coalition of Black students at the University of Washington School of Medicine (UW School of Medicine). BAMM was created in order to address anti-Black racism and white supremacy within medicine, specifically at UWSOM; to create the conditions for accountability for our administration and faculty so that they can recognize and dismantle their anti-Blackness; and to make the necessary changes to UWSOM so that it will become an institution that serves and protects its Black students and patients.

BAMM’s namesake comes from the Black revolutionaries James Baldwin, Assata Shakur, Malcolm X, and Marsha P. Johnson. We are indebted to their work and that of the countless other radical Black folks who have come before us.

“Their work as student activists needs to be recognized and celebrated as it will not only improve our education at UWSOM but will ultimately help UWSOM create a generation of doctors that is better equipped at serving the marginalized patients that suffer most at the hands of our medical system today.”

School of Nursing - Street Medics

The UW School of Nursing recognizes the nurses and healthcare workers who volunteer as street medics. When demonstrations protesting the death of George Floyd began last spring, many from the nursing community served on the frontlines of the protests to provide basic medical care.

These volunteer street medics were critical to providing the health care of protesters on site, treating everything from injuries sustained by rubber bullets to tear gas. While these individuals would like stay anonymous and their identities will not be publicized, we want to recognize them for their efforts for standing up for racial injustice during these unprecedented times.

The following is a firsthand account from a UW nursing student who served in this role at the Seattle and Portland protests. "My greatest take away from those days was the power of compassion. Exhausted from work, I would arrive to volunteer and found myself among other red-eyed and weary caregivers going through the same. There were anesthetists, emergency department doctors, family practitioners, dentists, nurses, nurse-aides, and buckets of paramedics who showed up every day to find heaps of donated supplies that they diligently organized in a makeshift outdoor triage center.

Even when police would destroy the supplies, pour out the water, and scatter meticulous inventory ledgers we would rebuild and start over again."Here are some of my thoughts about being a nurse and a street medic. The oppression and violence experienced by Black, Indigenous, and other people of color has a huge impact on health. If we truly care about health, then we must fight for liberation. As a nurse, I work as a street medic so I can use my particular skill set to support the dismantling of the racist institutions, including the healthcare system.”

School of Pharmacy - Edward J. Kelly, PhD

“Dr. Kelly’s philosophy is that giving back, sharing knowledge, and helping others who may have had fewer advantages and opportunities, are an essential part of science, and when done strategically and intentionally, result in more innovation and scientific impact."

His laboratory has gained a reputation among under-represented minority and first-generation college students at the UW and in the greater community for providing meaningful and rigorous experiences; everyone is consistently challenged to be their best, personally and scientifically.

”Dr. Kelly earned his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Washington in the laboratory of Dr. Richard Palmiter, developing transgenic and knockout mouse models to study the function of the metal-binding protein metallothionein. Following a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular toxicology with Dr. David Eaton, he ventured into Biotech, managing the Preclinical Bioanalytics group at Targeted Genetics Corporation, evaluating the safety and efficacy of gene therapeutics.

Upon his return to academia, his research interests have stayed within the realm of preclinical biology. One of Dr. Kelly’s passions is based upon the tenet that UW is a teaching institution, with his lab providing research opportunities to undergraduates to inspire them to reach higher than simply fulfilling their degree requirements. A champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion in sciences for his entire career, Ed has served as a mentor for entering UW freshman in the GenOM-ALVA program (depts.washington.edu/genomics/hsprog/alva.shtml) for the past 15 years and frequently hosts diverse students from the Stipends for Training Aspiring Researchers (STAR) summer program (depts.washington.edu/hscmsp/programs/star/).“Dr. Kelly has always fostered a diverse group of researchers in his lab, particularly through granting opportunities for underrepresented undergraduates though the GenOM ALVA program. Lab meetings were an inclusive and comfortable environment where other undergraduates and I felt empowered to freely ask questions and learn.

My conversations with him have been, and continue to be, influential in my pursuit towards pharmacy and pharmaceutical research.”

School of Public Health - Students of Color for Public Health

2020-21Officers: Ishu Poudyal, Bianca Bonsol, Faye Alarcon, Najma Abdi, Jamie Lan, Makayla Ndamele, Kayla Guild-Taylor, Odalis Octaviano, Abigail Mulugeta

Students of Color for Public Health (SCPH) at the University of Washington is dedicated to providing a space for students of color interested in public health. SCPH shall provide personal, professional,  academic and social support for students passionate about the field. In addition, we strive to promote health within marginalized communities through education and service.

This group has been a vital source of support for undergraduate BIPOC students who are interested in Public Health when it comes to supporting community building, peer mentorship and identity based reflection especially in our current online environment. This year they have held discussion spaces about BIPOC solidarity and imposter syndrome.  "It has been so amazing watching the ways that they have mobilized to provide direct support to their community.  They are a group of passionate and justice driven students, and being able to bear witness to the amazing work they do is incredibly energizing and inspiring." 

School of Social Work - Kathy Taylor

The majority of Kathy Taylor’s career has been spent working in child welfare, where she has used her organizational, management and teaching skills to advance the professional development of social work practitioners. Since 1990, she has worked in a variety of capacities with the Department of Social & Health Services, most recently as a social and health program manager, program consultant, Family Voluntary Services supervisor and area administrator.

For three years, she served as a teaching associate and practicum supervisor for the Child Welfare Training & Advancement Program. There she developed and conducted trainings in child welfare practices for CWTAP students, developed student and staff recruitment plans, worked with CWTAP students to develop their practicum learning contracts and helped them  transition to the job market.

Coupled with her personal qualities of confidence, maturity, professionalism, and an even and thoughtful perspective she is turned to regularly for her wise counsel to her colleagues and is a sought-after partner by other Field Faculty in teaching student classes and Field Instructor trainings. 

UW Medicine - South Seattle COVID-19 Testing Team

UW Medicine was one of the first healthcare teams that mobilized efforts to test King County's vulnerable populations for the novel coronavirus. The COVID-19 mobile testing program began in the spring and has served more than 15,000 people.
"It’s important to go to areas where we find that there are high positivity rates so that we can identify individuals who are infected with the virus and isolate them quickly," says Dr. Lisa Chew, associate medical director of ambulatory services at Harborview Medical Center.

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the longstanding inequities that exist in our nation. We need to prioritize the health of individuals without privilege. In addition to providing access to high quality health services, we need to address the social determinants of health and environmental and community conditions that impact health to be successful. This requires collaboration among health care systems, communities and multisector organizations to identify health priorities, unite around shared goals, develop culturally tailored solutions and ultimately improve the health and well-being of the community during and long after the pandemic.”