College of Medicine and Life Sciences

July 28: “Queering Healthcare: Moving Beyond One-Axis of Oppression”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosting a Language of Diversity lecture on Thursday, July 28, 2022 via WebEx. 

Dr. Ally Day, associate professor and Graduate Program Chair of Disability Studies at The University of Toledo, will present "Queering Healthcare: Moving Beyond One-Axis of Oppression."

Her book, "The Political Economy of Stigma: HIV, Memoir and Crip Positionalities" (OSU 2021), addresses the complicated interactions between those living with HIV and AIDS Service providers, as well as the neoliberal production and exploitation of narrative within the Medical Industrial Complex.

In addition to co-producing a feature length film about an HIV hospice in Toledo, which she will speak about today, she is also working on second book project about the intersection of disability and birth where she analyzes several sites of pregnancy and disability, from Zika to doula trainings, home birth movements to infertility industries; this project is tentatively titled "Grappling with Gestational Ableism: Disability, Pregnancy and Radical Futures."

June 29: “It’s all in the Mind: Mindfulness as Language of Diversity and Inclusion”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 via WebEx.

Dr. Puneet Sindhwani presented: "It’s all in the Mind: Mindfulness as Language of Diversity and Inclusion."

In 2016, Dr. Puneet Sindhwani joined The University of Toledo’s College of Medicine and Life Sciences as chair of the Department of Urology. He was also awarded the prestigious Kenneth A. Kropp, MD, Endowed Professorship of Urology.

May 17: “Disparities in LGBTQ+ Health Care – One Transgender Pastoral Counselor's Experience in Healing Justice Work”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 via Teams.

Jacoba Wilhelmina Anneke Hein presented this lecture, followed by a Q&A.

Ms. Hein holds a Master of Education degree from University of Canterbury – New Zealand with majors in cross-cultural studies and adult learning and development. She earned her Master of Science degree in Psychology from California Coast University (CCU) and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from Massey University – New Zealand.

She has extensive international pastoral and communication work in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom. She has many years of experience in full-time pastoral work for parishes around the world, including Charleston, South Carolina, Melbourne, Australia and Toledo. She was the pastor for Toledo's Good Shepherd Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) from 1997 to 1999. 

She is currently working on her Doctor of Theology dissertation in the Netherlands. 

April 28: “The Veterans Shadow: Understanding the challenges of the U.S. Soldier”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Thursday, April 28, 2022.

This highly engaging session featured conversations with Randy L. Cheadle, retired soldier / emergency management / teaching professional, and Chris Loranger, Chief Warrant Officer Two and Assistant Detachment Commander, Special Forces.

Randy L. Cheadle is a distinguished 28-year veteran of the U.S. Army as a Military Police Soldier. He retired from the Army in 2017 after achieving the highest enlisted rank of Sergeant Major (E9). Randy has over 33 years of experience in Military Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, Anti-Terrorism, Physical and Personnel Security, Business Continuity, Multiagency coordination, and teaching.

After Randy retired from the military, he served as a Business Continuity Planner for one of the largest intelligence organizations in the world. Upon completion of that assignment, Randy made the move to PNC Financial Institution where he became the Vice President of PNC's Crisis Management Operations.

During Randy's career, he has vast experience working with active-duty military healthcare facilities and currently mentor's senior military leaders in preparing for their processes and documentation to enter the Veterans Affairs Healthcare program.

Randy recently retired from crisis management operations and received his Ohio Substitute Teachers credentials so he can continue passing on his knowledge and experiences.

Chris Loranger has served over 18 years in the United States Army. He initially joined the Army in 1999 as a Military Police Officer and served in an airborne unit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, before leaving the Army in 2005. During that time, he deployed to Kosovo (2001), Afghanistan (2002), and Iraq (2004). After leaving the Army, he returned to his hometown of Santa Rosa, Calif., and served as a Sonoma County Sheriff Correctional Deputy for three years. He then left the Sheriff's Office to work for the Rohnert Park Public Safety as a Police Officer before deciding to return to the Army in 2009. He returned as a Special Forces recruit and completed Basic Infantry Training prior to Passing Special Forces Assessment and Selection.

Training highlights while in Special Forces include learning the French language, Military Freefall, the Special Forces Warrant Officer Certification Course, and the Special Forces Water Infiltration Course. Additionally, Chris just completed Ranger School as the oldest Soldier in his class (then 40) and as the only warrant officer.

Chris continually trains to keep up with the physical demands of Special Forces. As such, he trains for and competes in ultramarathons with numerous 100k and 50-mile finishes. He is doing a 100-mile race in June 2022 with the JFK 50-miler shortly after that. Aside from running, Chris is married and has two boys who are 12 and 10 years old. He enjoys spending the rare free time that he has with them.

During Chris' career, the physical demands have taken a toll on his body; from a neck injury due to a freefall parachute malfunction to knee pain from carrying heavy packs for long distances, the Special Forces lifestyle is not easy. Chris is currently undergoing pain management to work through pain issues.

April 26: “Black Feminist Thought and Grassroots Health Organizing”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.

Dr. Rachel Dudley, a UToledo assistant professor in Women's and Gender Studies and an affiliated faculty member in the Africana Studies Program, presented this lecture, titled "Black Feminist Thought and Grassroots Health Organizing: Case Studies in Healing Justice Work."

Dr. Dudley's interactive presentation will explore frameworks emerging from Black feminist thought and grassroots organizing, in relation to health and medicine. Discussion themes include the following: important historical case studies involving African American women and medical ethics, the historical development of "healing justice" frameworks and community-level interventions in relation to social justice and health. Dr. Dudley will discuss important contributions in this area, from the Black Women's Health Imperative, The Kindred Southern Healing Justice Collective, and the Black Feminist Health Science Studies Collective. Dr. Dudley will also review examples of grassroots work, which address trauma-informed care for BIPOC and other marginalized communities (i.e. The Black Emotional And Mental Health Collective, BEAM).

A Black feminist health humanities scholar, Dr. Dudley researches and teaches at the intersections of gender, race, history, health, and cultural representations. She is interested in interdisciplinary collaborative work across the health humanities and health sciences. Dr. Dudley completed her doctoral work at Emory University in Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. She has published articles and/or book reviews in Disability Studies Quarterly, Humanities, and Synapsis: A Health Humanities Journal. She also has a forthcoming chapter on Black feminist pedagogy and teaching gender, race, and health humanities online. Dr. Dudley is a proud member of the National Women's Studies Association and the Black Feminist Health Science Studies Collective.  

April 7: “Removing the Barriers”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Thursday, April 7, 2022.

Dr. Lisa Lowery, from Michigan State University, presented this lecture, titled "In Conversation: Removing the Barriers, Future Directions in Diversity and Inclusion."

Dr. Lisa Lowery, a Grand Rapids native received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology, with Honors from Michigan State University. Dr. Lowery received her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed a combined Internal Medicine and Pediatric Residency program at Spectrum Health-Butterworth Michigan State University/Grand Rapids Campus. Dr. Lowery completed a subspecialty fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. While at the Johns Hopkins, she obtained a Master of Public Health in the Department of Population and Family Health Sciences with a Certificate of Concentration in Maternal and Child Health.

Dr. Lowery is the Section Chief of Adolescent Medicine and an Associate Program Director for the Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Program. She is an Associate Professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Department of Pediatrics and Human Development. In April 2020, she started at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine as the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Cultural Initiatives.

She is the president of the West Michigan Medical Society/National Medical Association and serves on the Urban League of West Michigan Board of Directors, the Cherry Health Foundation Board, Wedgewood Christian Services Board of Directors and Grand Rapids LGBTQ Health Consortium Board of Directors.

March 23: “Understanding the Journey to Health Equity”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

Dr. Monica R. McLemore, from the University of California, San Francisco, presented this lecture, titled "Understanding The Journey To Health Equity: Retrofit, Reform, And Reimagine."

Dr. McLemore is a tenured associate professor in the Family Health Care Nursing Department, an affiliated scientist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, and a member of the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health. She retired from clinical practice as a public health and staff nurse after a 28-year clinical nursing career in 2019, however, continues to provide flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Her program of research is focused on understanding reproductive health and justice.

To date, she has 87 peer reviewed articles, OpEds and commentaries and her research has been cited in the Huffington Post, Lavender Health, five amicus briefs to the Supreme Court of the United States, and three National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine reports, and a data visualization project entitled How To Fix Maternal Mortality: The first step is to stop blaming women that was published in the 2019 Future of Medicine edition of Scientific American.

Her work has appeared in publications such as Dame Magazine, Politico, ProPublica/NPR and she made a voice appearance in Terrance Nance's HBO series "Random Acts of Flyness." She is the recipient of numerous awards and currently serves as chair for Sexual and Reproductive Health section of the American Public Health Association. She was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2019 and was named the Thelma Shobe Endowed Chair in 2021.

Feb. 15: “Implicit Bias in Healthcare”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Feb. 15, 2022.

Dr. Marvin Whitfield (he/him/his), the distinguished keynote speaker in honor of Black History Month, presented this lecture, titled "Implicit Bias in Healthcare: Mitigating the Impact."

Dr. Whitfield is the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio and the Founder of the Blue Force Mobile Training Team. Before moving to the private & nonprofit sector, Whitfield served as a Team Leader and Senior Instructor on a Department of Defense contract and conducted numerous training missions for the United States Army Intelligence Center of Excellence Training Division.

His previous work experience also included more than two decades of law enforcement, where he retired as a Police Commander. Whitfield's educational background consists of a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Criminal Justice, a master's degree in Criminal Justice Administration, and a Master of Business Administration: specializing in Human Resource Management and holds a certification in Psychology of Leadership.

He serves his community as a Rotarian, a member of the Perrysburg Coalition for Inclusion and Social Justice, and a Special Deputy with the Wood County Sheriff's Office. Whitfield sits on of several committees whose mission centers around promoting social equality and youth resilience.

Jan. 25: “Support Systems in Medicine”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Jan. 25, 2022.

Dr. Jaime McBride and Dr. Michael Bush-Arnold presented this lecture via WebEx, titled "Support Systems in Medicine."

Dr. Jaime McBride is an Emergency Medicine Physician with Emergency Physicians of Northwest Ohio. She works in emergency rooms across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Community Health and Kinesiology degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She graduated from Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency from Henry Ford - Wyandotte in Emergency Medicine.

Dr. McBride was born and raised in Chicago, IL in the Hyde Park neighborhood. She enjoys riding her bike, traveling, and spending time with her family. She is married to Michael Bush-Arnold and they are the proud parents of 2-year old, Harper Cecelia. 

Dr. Michael Bush-Arnold is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation doctor (physiatrist) with the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan in Detroit Michigan where he serves as the Medical Director of the Spinal Cord Injury unit. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health from Miami University in Oxford, OH. He graduated from the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and completed his residency from Emory University in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He subsequently completed a fellowship in Spinal Cord Injury from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Bush-Arnold was born and raised in Toledo, OH. He is an avid Buckeyes football fan, enjoys watching movies, and loves being with his family.

Dec. 14: “Beyond Resilience” Diversity Panel

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a diversity panel part of the Women in Medicine Series on Dec. 14, 2021.

Titled "Beyond Resilience: The Complexity of Thriving Amidst Adversity," the panel was moderated by Dr. Kimberly Jenkins, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Interim Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology.

Nov. 16: “Flavors of advocacy: Harnessing your Strengths for Social Justice”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Nov. 16, 2021.

Dr. Vibha Gupta presented "Flavors of advocacy: Harnessing your Strengths for Social Justice."

Dr. Gupta is the executive director and founder of No Immigrants No Spice (NINS), a nonprofit focused on flipping the narrative and shining a light on the contributions of immigrants to our collective culture. Using food as a vector for storytelling, NINS elevates the voices of immigrants and generates funds for direct legal aid and advocacy. Dr. Gupta is an Emergency Medicine Physician at Kaiser Permanente Oakland and Richmond Medical Centers in California.

Oct. 20: “The Power of Allyship: Affirming Trans and Non-Binary Patients”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Oct. 20, 2021, as part of our celebration of LGBTQ History Month.

Danielle Lutman presented "The Power of Allyship: Affirming Trans and Non-Binary Patients."

Danielle (she/her/hers) is Program Manager for Gender Equity Student Initiatives in the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women and the LGBTQA+ Liaison for the UToledo Office of Diversity & Inclusion.

Download Presentation

Sept. 29: “Consider Intersectionality: Caring for Latinx and LGTBQ+ Individuals”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Sept. 29, 2021.

Elijah Jones, MSW, LISW-S, LICDC, ACSW, CCTP, CDP, presented "Consider Intersectionality: Caring for Latinx and LGTBQ+ Individuals."

Elijah is a social worker, inclusive leader, educator, and solutionist. A proud graduate of the University of Toledo, he currently works for the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County as the Manager of Treatment Services.

Aug. 24: “Microaggressions in Medicine” Diversity Panel

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted "Microaggressions in Medicine" on August 24, 2021.

We debuted our mini documentary on microaggressions featuring our own UTCOMLS students and faculty members. We listened to their stories and followed up with a panel discussion to further explore how we can create a better learning and clinical environment for all.

Watch on YouTube with chapter markers.

June 28: “Celebrating the Legacy of Black Women in Medicine”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted "Celebrating the Legacy of Black Women in Medicine" on June 28.

The lecture was presented by Dr. Sharon T. Thomas, Associate Program Director for the Pediatric Residency Program and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine physician at Russell J. Ebeid Children's Hospital.

June 16: “Transform the Table”

The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences Alumni Affiliate hosted a second webinar in our series, Transform the Table - UToledo Diversity in Action, on June 16.

Learn more

May 12: “The Fight Against Food Insecurity”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion presented "The Fight Against Food Insecurity: Supporting & Getting Involved in our Campus Community" on May 12.

Learn how to support the efforts of The University of Toledo Food Pantries that are working to address student food insecurity. The Distinguished Speaker is Benjamin R. Weiner, Interim Associate Director of the Office of Student Involvement & Leadership.

Learn more about the Food Pantries

March 25: “Faith Matters”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted an Interfaith Panel: “Faith Matters” on March 25, 2021.

This long-awaited discussion looked at the importance of faith in our healthcare providers' lives and the patients we serve. This panel will consist of physicians and students who share their reflections on how faith has impacted their personal, academic, and professional journeys.

Feb. 17: “The Road Less Traveled”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted "The Road Less Traveled" Diversity Lecture on Feb. 17, 2021.

Dr. Courtney Fitzhugh, Lasker Clinical Research Scholar at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is the distinguished keynote speaker in honor of Black History Month.

Dr. Courtney Fitzhugh received her B.S. magna cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1996, and her M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco in 2001. During medical school, Dr. Fitzhugh participated in the NIH Clinical Research Training Program, where she studied with Dr. John Tisdale at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

After receiving her M.D., Dr. Fitzhugh completed a joint residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at Duke University Medical Center, and in 2005 she did a combined adult hematology and pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship at the NIH and Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Fitzhugh returned to the NHLBI in 2007 and was appointed as Assistant Clinical Investigator in 2012 and Clinical Tenure Track Investigator in 2016. She is a member of the American Society of Hematology.

Jan. 27: “More than a White Coat: Healing the Well-Being of a Nation”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a Language of Diversity lecture on Jan. 27, 2021.

Ashley A. Futrell, Esq., presented the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Lecture, titled "More than a White Coat: Healing the Well-Being of a Nation."

Ashley is an Attorney at Law at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, in Toledo, Ohio. An established litigator and counselor, she represents clients of all sizes on complex litigation, labor and employment, and white collar matters.

Ashley is a former Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio, where she investigated and prosecuted federal crimes, including public corruption and white collar cases. She served as a point of contact for federal and state agencies on federal crimes.

Ashley began her law career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, where she investigated and prosecuted all phases of misdemeanor and felony cases and represented New York County in criminal hearings and trials.

Before law school, Ashley served as a senior staff member on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., where she advised several Members of Congress on a wide variety of legislative issues. She also worked to secure federal funding for urban parks and conservation and built national coalitions for national conservation organizations.

Ashley is a leader in her community. In 2019, she was the recipient of Toledo's 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Toledo Bar Association, the Toledo Opera, United Way of Greater Toledo's Women's Initiative, Leadership Toledo, and the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (a merger of the Toledo Symphony and Toledo Ballet), as well as a former board member of Junior League of Toledo. Ashley is also a member of the Toledo Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and the International Women's Forum.

Ashley received her B.A. in Law and Society from American University, her M.A. from Johns Hopkins University and her J.D. from Howard University School of Law.

Dec. 8: “LGBTQA+ Allyship for Healthcare Professionals”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted LGBTQA+ Allyship for Healthcare Professionals on Dec. 8.

Danielle Stamper, LGBTQA+ Liaison in the UToledo Office of Diversity & Inclusion, presented on LGBTQA+ terminology and disparities/best practices in healthcare. The presentation concluded with a Q&A.

Download the presentation (PDF)

Nov. 18: “Not Readily Accessible”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion presented “Not Readily Accessible” Language of Diversity Lecture with Kingsley Joseph on Nov. 18.

Kingsley Joseph, UToledo medical physics resident, shared insight on challenges faced and overcome while achieving his academic and professional goals. He explored obstacles encountered while living with a disability and shared ways we can promote equity, inclusion, and advocacy for underserved populations.

Nov. 4: Virtual GME Open House – “Achieving a diverse, inclusive culture and high levels of wellbeing”

The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences Offices of Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion presented this special open house.

This event provided current medical students an overview of GME at UToledo. Hear about the UToledo approach to maintaining a diverse, inclusive and supportive environment. Hear from current residents in virtual panel discussion between residents and the student audience.

Sept. 29: “Women of Color and the Myth of the Superwoman”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion held "Women of Color and the Myth of the Superwoman" on Tuesday, Sept. 29, via WebEx. 

This event covered views on stress, strength, resilience, wellness and medical myths. Panelists on the roundtable were: Dr. Elysia James, Dr. Brandy Wright, Dr. Kimberly Jenkins and Malaika Bell.

Sept. 22: “Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration: Reflection and Challenges on my Journey”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and La Asociacion Hispana para la Salud (Hispanic Health Association) held "Reflection and Challenges on my Journey" on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Part of the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, the event featured guest speaker Dr. Juan Carlos Jaume, professor and Chief of Endocrinology in the Department of Medicine. 

National Hispanic Heritage Month is a period from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the U.S.

Aug. 25: “Race, Law, Medicine: A conversation on Social Justice and Health Equity”

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion held "Race, Law, Medicine: A conversation on Social Justice and Health Equity" on Tuesday, August 25. Presented by Professor Ben Davis, College of Law, this lecture is part of the Language of Diversity: Distinguished Lecture Series. Professor Davis spoke with Vernellia R. Randall, Professor Emeritus of the University of Dayton School of Law. Professor Randall writes extensively on and speaks internationally about race, women, and healthcare.

June 30: “Health Disparities and COVID-19: A Crisis within a Crisis”

Moderator:

Dr. Kimberly Jenkins, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Panelists:

Erika D. White, President CWA Local 4319, National Executive Diversity Board Member, Dr. Elysia James, Neurocritical Care, University of Toledo; Sadia Tahir, UTCOMLS Medical Student, White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL), Vice President, SNMA, Barbershop Initiative Chair; John C. Jones, EMBA, Community Liaison, Office of Social Determinants of Health; and Dr. Darren Gordon, UToledo MD/PhD Candidate, Former National Speaker of the House, Student National Medical Association

June 10: “Confronting ourselves: A Conversation about Race, Equity and Inclusion”

Download the PDF presentation