Diversity and Outreach News
The theme of Chancellor Sam Hawgood’s inspiring State of the University address last month could not have been more timely for the debut of this column. During his speech Hawgood placed emphasis on the importance of making connections with the community, as well as on the necessity of increasing diversity at UCSF. This happens to be the focus of our Diversity and Outreach column, in which we highlight the impressive efforts that UCSF organizations are putting forth in both community and educational outreach, and in promoting diversity on campus. In our inaugural article, which fittingly coincides with Diversity month, we feature dental students giving free health screenings in Oakland, as well as multiple Diversity Month celebrations including National Coming Out Day, several movie screenings, and a symposium on health disparities research. We also announce upcoming diversity and outreach-focused events to look forward to in the month to come. - Angela Castanieto, Associate Editor
UCSF Celebrates the Campus Community During Diversity Month 2014
By Tina Novero
UCSF celebrated the diversity of its campus community during Diversity Month, 2014, with the annual theme of “Building Community at UCSF.” Highlights of the month so far have included:
First Generation College Student Welcome (Back) Dinner
Over sixty students, trainees, and alumni were in attendance for this annual welcome back dinner. The October 1st event was hosted by the MRC, and by the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and the Graduate Division.
Movie Screening: “Inocente”
"Inocente" is an intensely personal coming-of-age documentary about a vibrant Latina teenage artist from a dauntingly tough background in San Diego who refuses to allow her struggles with poverty and homelessness get in the way of her extraordinary talent. The SFGH Dean’s office along with the Office of Diversity and Outreach and Alumni Relations sponsored this popular October 2nd event.
“Takes an Uprising”: LGBT History Month/National Coming Out Day Celebration
The LGBT Resource Center hosted an LGBT History Month/National Coming Out Day Event on October 9th, hosting San Francisco lesbian author and community activist Patricia Jackson. Through her work on the Intergenerational Storytelling Project and many years with San Francisco’s LGBTQ youth and elders, Patricia shared her journey and hopes to encourage, inspire, and expand activism in the LGBTQ communities.
Movie Screening: “Fixed: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement”
The UCSF Committee on Disability Issues hosted “FIXED: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement” as part of the ReelAbilities Film Festival. The documentary takes a close look at the drive to be “better than human” and the radical technological innovations that may take us there. The October 16th screening ended with a panel discussion with key principals in the documentary and disability rights advocates. Alumni Relations helped in sponsoring the event with gift bags for attendees.
Health Disparities Research Symposium 8
UCSF has a multitude of researchers with national and international reputations in disparities research, and this October 17th symposium provided a forum to showcase the breadth and depth of this work. This year’s keynote speaker was James S. Jackson, Daniel Katz Distinguished University Professor of Psychology, Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies, and Director and Research Professor of the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.
SNDA and HSDA volunteer at 37th Annual Health Fair
By Ivy Avanessian Fua
Since the economic downturn many people, especially those living in East Oakland, have suffered disproportionally from cancer, diabetes and hypertension. In service to these individuals the Student National Dental Association (SNDA), in collaboration with the Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA), volunteered on August 14th at Allen Temple Baptist Church’s 37th Annual Health Fair themed “Healthy Actions For A Healthy You”. The goals of the fair were to provide free health screenings, and to educate the community about positive health maintenance behaviours including ways to decrease stress.
Over ninety community organizations participated at the fair to provide: adult physicals; back-to-school physicals; blood pressure screenings; breast exams; cholesterol and diabetes screenings; eye exams; foot exams; hearing exams and oral health exams. With supervision by Dr. Daniel Ramos, Director of UCSF’s Oral Medicine Clinical Center, and Dr. Pamela Alston, Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF and Dental Director of the Alameda Health System, 2nd through 4th year dental students volunteering with SNDA and HSDA provided oral cancer screenings, dental screenings, and fluoride varnish application to over one hundred patients. “We had so many people come by our booth that we ran out of consent forms. We had to go make more copies,” said one student volunteer.
The patients seen were quite diverse, with 63% being African American and 34% being Hispanic, and 74% of those being children. The severity of the cases also varied, with 69% advised to continue with regular checkups, 20% given dental treatment on-the-spot and 10% advised to see a dentist as soon as possible due to the severity of their dental problems. A dental care referral resource list was given to all patients along with a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss, and patients were also taught how to properly brush and floss.
All supplies used by the UCSF volunteers were donated by the Office of Student Life at UCSF. SNDA and HSDA plan on continuing to provide more dental screening events throughout the school year.
UPCOMING EVENTS
UCSF/SFSU First Annual Community Partnerships Celebration
October 23, 5pm-8pm
San Francisco County Fair Building, 1199 9th Avenue
UC San Francisco’s University Community Partnerships (UCP) and SF State’s Community Service Learning Program (CSL) will be holding a First Annual Community Partnerships Celebration. The celebration will highlight the work that both institutions do within the San Francisco community. This year UCP will honor the outstanding achievements of our 2014 Excellence in Partnerships Awardees. RSVP required at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SFSUUCSFpartnerships.
Multicultural Resource Center Open House
October 24, Noon-2pm
Multicultural Resource Center, Millberry Union, MU123W
Stop by the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) from noon-2pm on Friday, October 24 to meet the new Director of the Multicultural Resource Center, LaMisha Hill, PhD. There will be light refreshments, raffle prizes, and a special performance by UCSF Vocal Chords! RSVP Required at https://www.facebook.com/events/711442155600998/%3Fref=22.
Asexual Awareness Day Brown Bag Discussion
October 29, Noon-1pm
S-174
The UCSF LGBT Resource Center is hosting a brown bag lunch event to learn about Asexuality. This 45 minute talk with discuss the theories behind asexuality, patient intake, how to talk about asexuality with patients who may identify as such, and how it differs from abstinence and celibacy.
LGBT FAST Mentoring
November 6, 6PM – 8PM
Lange Room, UCSF Parnassus Library
The LGBT FAST Mentoring Program is sponsored by the UCSF LGBT Resource Center. At this Speed Mentoring Event, attendees will have an opportunity to meet potential mentors/mentees through the evening. RSVP required. Contact larry.lariosa@ucsf.edu
Guest Speaker Sylvia Mendez, RN
November 12, 5:30PM – 7PM
HSW 300
In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the Office of Diversity and Outreach, the UCSF School of Nursing and Voces Latinas proudly invite you to meet Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Sylvia Mendez, RN. Ms. Mendez is principal catalyst for the case that made California the first state in the country to desegregate their public school system. As this program will draw high interest from the community, we kindly ask that you RSVP at http://sylviamendez.eventbrite.com on or before Wednesday, November 5.
If you are part of a UCSF organization that does outreach or diversity-focused events, you can showcase past events or announce upcoming events in this column. Please e-mail a write-up (200 words or fewer per event) to synapse@ucsf.edu with the subject line Diversity & Outreach by November 12th to be featured in the November 20th issue.
