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Medical Scientist Training Program

The MSTP - UT Houston provides students pursuing careers as physician-scientists the unique opportunity to earn dual MD/PhD degrees in a six to eight year integrated Program offered by McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

MSTP Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)

JEDI Committee Members- Students: Renato Guerrieri, Morgan Riba, Jacob Mattia, Aaron Bickert, Sanjay Neerukonda, Ephraim Vazquez-Rosado; Faculty: Dr. Ruth Heidelberger, Dr. Wendy Woodward, Dr. Alex Gorfe, Dr. Anthony Flores

JEDI Diversity Statement

Scope: At the University of Texas at Houston Medical Scientist Training Program (UTHealth Houston/MDACC MSTP), we are deeply committed to fostering a diverse, culturally rich and inclusive educational environment where opportunities for collaboration and innovation are limitless.  We value and embrace the different ethnicities, races, cultures, ages, abilities, gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, national origins, and religions that comprise our MSTP family.  We are steadfast in our commitment to cultivating a physician-scientist workforce that is equipped to meet the evolving healthcare and biomedical research needs in our greater community.

Policy: The MSTP endeavors to recruit and support diverse students, residents, faculty, and administrative staff.  Utilizing the AAMC definition of underrepresented in medicine we strive to recruit women, those with disabilities, and racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in medicine and biomedical research relative to their numbers in the general population. This includes African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian & Alaska Native.  We also strive to recruit students of all socioeconomic status and backgrounds.

In addition, the MSTP strives to embed Justice, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion into the foundations of the program’s activities and culture in the following areas of admissions, education, outreach, social events, and service.

Our Diversity Goals and Principles:

  • The MSTP will engage in ongoing, intentional, systematic recruitment, retention and engagement activities designed to enhance and maintain a diverse and inclusive student body, faculty, and staff.
  • The MSTP recognizes a broad concept of diversity which includes widely divergent life experiences as well as traditional associations with race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, cultural orientation, disability, military service, religious beliefs, national origin, and other distinctive immutable and mutable characteristics. This definition applies to our students, faculty, and staff.
  • The MSTP will provide institutional resources to support the leadership development of our diverse faculty as well as the success and retention of our diverse student body.
  • The MSTP will develop, refine, and continually improve metrics to assess the effectiveness of social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for faculty, staff, and students.

Related Policies:      

  1. Handbook of Operating Procedures Policy Number 183: Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment and Equal Opportunity: HOOP Policy 183
  2. Handbook of Operating Procedures Policy Number 101: Disability Accommodation: HOOP Policy 101
  3. Handbook of Operating Procedures Policy Number 112: Observing Religious Holy Days: HOOP Policy 112
  4. UTHealth Houston Reaffirmation of Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action: Equal Opportunity Statement

Calendar of JEDI Events:

11/09/22 Topics in Medicine Speaker (Video)- Emily Cleveland Manchada, MD, MPH, Asst Professor of Emergency Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine; Title of video: “Racism in Medicine: Historical Foundations and Strategies for Advancing Health Equity” https://edhub.ama-assn.org/ama-center-health-equity/video-player/18714776

11/09-11/12/22 ABRCMS conference in Anaheim, CA; MSTP students represented the MSTP along with GSBS representatives

02/01-02/28/23 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge for Black History Month – Purpose: Foster habits for engaging in social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in order to embed JEDI within our MSTP culture and become more aware, compassionate, constructive, engaged people in the quest for racial equity.  Bookmark the Challenge website (https://21dayequitychallenge.com/21-day-original/) and engage in 1 activity per day (Read, Listen, Watch, Notice, Connect, Engage, Act, Reflect, or Inspire). Track and reflect on  your progress using the Activity Tracker and discuss your thoughts with others in the program on GroupMe.

02/25/23 Honoring Black History Month - Join the JEDI and Social Committees for brunch at 11:30 am at Mo’ Better Brews (1201 Southmore Blvd), a black-owned, 100% vegan restaurant and café, followed by a private tour of the Houston Museum of African American Culture (4807 Caroline St) at 1:00 PM.

04/19/23 Topics in Medicine Speaker