Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at RUSH is fully committed to promoting the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee serves to promote, educate, and advocate for a diverse and equitable work environment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Their purpose is to empower residents, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds (racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identity, or faith) to have an active voice in creating an increasingly diverse, supportive department and to provide equitable health outcomes for our diverse patient population. As part of this purpose, the DEI Committee serves to educate and acknowledge existing bias within our clinical and administrative spaces. By incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion into the work environment, a sense of belonging is developed which ultimately improves the overall well-being, retention, and productivity of all members of the department. Members of the DEI Committee include representatives from each PGY level along with the Program Director.
Department + Program Activities
Black Maternal Health Week
Didactics - Reproductive Justice / Care For People With Disabilities; Care For People Experiencing Homelessness
Grand Rounds - Postpartum Patient Navigation
Implicit Bias Training
Listening Clubs
Summer Series - Resident Run Population Health Topics (Immigrant Health, Transgender Patient Navigation, Ugandanan GYN ONC Care, Volunteer Doulas)
Volunteer Activities
Affirm - The RUSH Center for Gender, Sexuality, and Reproductive Health
Center for Community Health Equity
Reproductive Health Equity
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at RUSH acknowledges the role of racial bias, systemic racism, and social inequities in health care. We are committed to eliminating them with the purpose of improving reproductive health access and outcomes for all women. Disparities in health outcomes persist and disproportionately impact historically marginalized communities especially those with low income, people of color, immigrants, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Reproductive health equity uses an intersectional lens to advocate for access to reproductive health care regardless of race, ethnicity, income, zip code, gender, age, immigration status, ability, sexual orientation, or religion.
As a department we use the principal of reproductive health equity to direct our efforts in quality improvement, access, treatment, and community outreach. Our ongoing efforts include participation in the Illinois Perinatal Birth Equity Initiative, Black Maternal Health awareness, use of social determinants of health, trauma history, and substance use in pregnancy to identify high risk pregnancies and connect patients to resources, attempts to eradicate cervical cancer with Equal Hope organization, high risk cervical cancer screening follow up, access to affordable and safe abortions, participation in a state-wide abortion care network service line, and implicit bias and anti-racism training for all staff.
We are proud to play a role in eradicating disparities in health and improving access to quality reproductive health care for all patients.