By Riley McIsaac and Faina Thompson, Committee on Inclusive Excellence
In June 2024, NORDP’s Committee on Inclusive Excellence and Professional Development Committee co-hosted a webinar titled “Individuals to Institutions: Multilevel Integration of DEI in RD.” This presentation featured a panel made up of staff from Stanford University School of Medicine who generously shared their experiences and insights on how they have embedded DEI values at various levels within their institution. The following is an overview of what was discussed and the key takeaways for RD professionals.
Panelists:
- Dr. Justin Crest, Associate Director of Team Science, Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine
- Dr. Adrienne Mueller, Associate Director of Education and Outreach, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
- Dr. Amber Moore, Associate Director of Research Development and Belonging, Grant Writing Academy, Stanford School of Medicine
- Dr. Brandi Stephens, Research Development Strategist, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Co-officer, Stanford School of Medicine
Introduction and Moderator Overview:
The webinar was moderated by Dr. Shaila Kotadia, Director of Justice Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) at Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. Kotadia began by highlighting the importance of integrating DEI into RD activities and framed the discussion around the collective experiences and efforts at Stanford. She provided an overview of her role and the DEI initiatives undertaken by her office, emphasizing the need for collaboration and continuous improvement in fostering an inclusive environment.
Panel Insights:
1. Integrating DEI into Team Science – Dr. Justin Crest:
Dr. Justin Crest, Associate Director of Team Science at Stanford School of Medicine, shared his approach to incorporating DEI within team science projects in the Department of Pediatrics. He underscored the necessity of engaging teams early in order to proactively shape their culture. Dr. Crest highlighted strategies such as promoting equitable shared agreements, advocating for minoritized researchers, and leveraging large, complex grants to create more mentorship and leadership opportunities. He emphasized that through fostering inclusive research teams, visibility and support for underrepresented researchers can be significantly enhanced.
2. Supporting Underrepresented Trainees – Dr. Adrienne Mueller:
Dr. Adrienne Mueller, Associate Director of Education and Outreach at the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, discussed various grant mechanisms aimed at supporting trainees from underrepresented backgrounds. They detailed the use of NIH R25, T32, and other foundation awards specifically designed to provide research opportunities for these trainees. In addition to financial support, Dr. Mueller emphasized the importance of offering travel awards, recognition programs, and mentorship to create more opportunities that support minoritized trainees.
3. Creating Inclusive Learning Communities – Dr. Amber Moore:
Dr. Amber Moore, Associate Director of Research Development and Belonging at the Grant Writing Academy, shared her vision of creating inclusive learning communities. She discussed the importance of first co-creating a vision, mission, and guiding principles as a team. This vision centers joy and belonging in grant writing and research development pursuits, by creating inclusive learning communities and accessible resources for emerging scientists and faculty. This vision allows the team to be accountable to one another and informs strategy: from the type of resources and programming created and the way they are delivered, the questions asked in surveys, research questions, papers published, and the collaborations formed.This foundational work ensures that DEI is at the core of their operations. Dr. Moore stressed the importance of aligning personal and professional values with DEI goals and encouraged RD professionals to collaborate and seek feedback from DEI offices and pipeline programs.
4. Institutional-Level DEI Efforts – Dr. Brandi Stephens:
Dr. Brandi Stephens, Research Development Strategist and JEDI Co-officer, highlighted the broader institutional efforts to integrate DEI within Stanford’s RD Community of Practice. She described various initiatives, including diversity-focused grant writing workshops, invited speaker events, volunteer opportunities for research development professionals, and a dedicated DEI book club. Dr. Stephens emphasized the role of cross-departmental representation in DEI efforts and the value of creating an inclusive research development community that spans the entire institution.
Interactive Q&A and Shared Experiences:
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A segment, where participants engaged with the panelists to address common challenges and share best practices. A notable discussion point was the issue of reviewer bias in grant evaluations. Dr. Justin Crest and Dr. Adrienne Mueller provided practical advice on navigating these biases, emphasizing the importance of communicating with program officers and leveraging data to support DEI initiatives.
Conclusion and Takeaways:
The webinar highlighted the multifaceted approach to integrating DEI at individual, departmental, and institutional levels. Key takeaways for NORDP members include:
- Engaging research teams early to foster inclusive cultures.
- Advocating for underrepresented researchers and leveraging administrative supplements.
- Creating inclusive learning communities through clear mission and vision statements, accountability, and strategic collaboration.
- Coordinating DEI efforts across departments to ensure broad representation and impact.
Join the Conversation: We encourage NORDP members to share their thoughts and future action plans for integrating DEI into their RD practices. A collaborative Google Doc has been created to foster ongoing inspiration and support. Together, we can build a more inclusive and equitable research development community.
Acknowledgment: This blog post was crafted with the assistance of AI technology. AI tools were used to summarize the webinar content and compile detailed insights from each speaker, ensuring accuracy and coherence in the representation of the event.
NORDP News 