Residents standing around simulation body to see test results
DEI in Anesthesiology

A diverse, equitable and inclusive learning and working environment is inextricably linked to the U-M Medical School Department of Anesthesiology's tripartite mission.

We know diverse teams improve patient outcomes and encourage innovative ideas. We are committed to enhancing the diversity of our department and providing a safe and inclusive space for our learners, our faculty, staff and our patients.
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Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is focused on increasing the visibility of diversity topics and creating formal programming to attract and support residents from underrepresented and marginalized groups. The committee also works to increase education and provide opportunities for all members of our department to engage with DEI issues.

But it is not enough for us to focus on our department when there are wider challenges within academic anesthesiology. With the launch of RADAR (Raising Anesthesiology Diversity & Anti-Racism) in 2021, we are committed to leading the national conversation on diversity within the field and developing a pipeline for diversity in academic anesthesiology — from supporting college students and early-career professionals to providing resources regarding leadership and anti-racism to develop more inclusive practices and departments. Our department chair, Dr. George A. Mashour, was the lead principal investigator on an NIH grant that supported the launch of RADAR and its transformative goals for the field.

Diversity enriches our institution and our department. It makes us better teachers, better researchers, better doctors. We will continue striving to create an equitable and inclusive environment where all feel valued and respected."

— Matthew Wixson, MD
Associate Chair for Diversity
DEI Initiatives and Programming
  • Launched March 2021: radaranesthesia.org
  • Develop a national pipeline of diverse talent for academic anesthesia pipeline development and antiracism toolkit
  • Provide diversity and anti-racism workbook for academic anesthesia departmental processes and policies 

Recent topics:

  • Why Diversity Matters, Dr. Matt Wixson
  • Racism in Medicine: Nothing New Under the Knife, Dr. Christina Chapman (Department of Radiation Oncology)
  • Racism and Allyship in Medicine panel moderated by Dr. Matthew Wixson: Dr. Anita Malone, Ryan Ellison, CRNA, Dr. Brittany Ervin, Dr. Randy Vince
  • You Can't Find What You Aren't Looking for: The Intersection Between Recognizing DIC and Recognizing Harmful Policies and Ideas that Produce Racial Inequities - Dr. Emily Miner
  • Transgender Patient Awareness Week November 2019
    • Grand Rounds
    • Photo Voices Project Lunch and Learn
  • Consulted with Andrew Hickok, University Medical Group (UMMG), on anesthesiology patient communication regarding pronoun usage in the perioperative space
    • Learn more: Pedro Coracides and Andrew Hickok spoke with The Wrap about how Michigan Medicine serves the LGBTQ+ community
  • Developing relationship with U-M Medical Group around LGTQ+ curriculum and patient experience
  • Utilization of perioperative data network to begin studying health disparities
  • Women in Anesthesia Leadership Summit
  • Departmental DEI Climate Survey (ongoing)
  • Periodic all-department ZOOM discussions
  • Collaboration with Patient Experience Office on East Ann Arbor Patient Experience Project
  • Review and standardization of departmental hiring practices to eliminate bias and promote best practices 
  • Student-focused approach to increase diversity in anesthesiology at U-M Medical School
  • Virtual 2 week anesthesiology elective
  • Virtual Open House
  • Health Equity Scholars Program
  • Health Equity Visiting Clerkship
  • Faculty retreat focused on DEI
  • Strategies and Tactics for Recruiting to Improve Diversity and Excellence (STRIDE) workshop for programmatic and departmental leadership
  • Unconscious Bias Training Workshop with the Office for Health, Equity & Inclusion
  • Faculty activities and DEI training
  • Michigan Medicine is one of nine institutions participating in the ACGME Quality Improvement in Health Care Disparities Collaborative, which focuses on increasing opportunities for residents and fellows to engage in efforts to eliminate health care disparities and to develop skills and behaviors important for providing equitable care. Anesthesiology's Andrew Dering, MD, FRCA, is a member of Michigan Medicine Healthcare Disparities Collaborative. 
  • Unconscious Bias Training
  • Bystander Training
  • Health Disparity/Health Equity educational sessions
  • Journal Club: Bias in Anesthesiology
  • Participation with House Officer Diversity Network
  • Creation of trained resident recruitment committee
DEI Leadership
Matthew Wixson Matthew C Wixson, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Associate Chair, Department of Anesthesiology
Program Assistant, Anesthesiology
Assistant Dean, Office for Health Equity and Inclusion
Kim Ward Kimberly Ward, MBA
DEI Administrative Specialist and DEI Lead
DEI Committee

Madhavi Anne
Staff

Wilson Chimbira
Faculty

Lisa Mary Downs
CRNA

Ryan Ellison
CRNA

Donald Geml
CRNA

Angelique Gwin
CRNA

David Gwyn Hovord
Faculty

Daniel Huynh
Staff

Bernard H. Jiang
Faculty

Ralph Lamonge
Resident

Emily Miner
Faculty

Michael Meyer
CRNA

Celeste Montone-Horne
CRNA

Emily Peoples
Faculty

Samuel Rentsch
Staff

Lauryn Renee Rochlen
Faculty

Samuel Andrew Schechtman
Faculty

Kelsey Serfozo
Faculty

Fitz Gerald Tavernier Jr.
Resident

Michael George Taylor
Faculty

Kimberley A. Vnuk-Kronick
CRNA

Geneva White
Faculty

Vuslat Willey
Staff

Heather Wourman
Staff

Lara Zisblatt
Staff