Racism? Not in Our House!
Day 2: November 15, 2022 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m., Marquee Theater
Session Video
Session Materials
- Presentation: Racism? Not in Our House! (PDF)
Session Description
In October 2021, UW–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) and UW Health embarked on a new journey together, establishing a multifunctional SMPH Office of Diversity & Equity Transformation integrated with the existing UW Health Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. This effort facilitates alignment and progress in areas such as learning and education, faculty and staff support, equity in systems, policies and processes, support for basic science departments and their training programs, and programmatic accountability.
This session will provide insights into how the role of the Office of Diversity & Equity Transformation, serving both SMPH and UW Health, has aimed to be (1) targeted with focusing on specific strategies that are integrated and aligned across the organization to allow intentional systemic change; (2) streamlined through breaking down siloed work and connecting across the system to develop strategic and transformative approaches; and (3) impactful with placing organizational attention in key areas including advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts that engage staff, and actions to advance DEI in the basic science departments, institutes, centers, and programs.
Speakers
Shiva Bidar-Sielaff
Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, M.A., C.D.M., is the associate dean for diversity and equity transformation in the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), where she leads a comprehensive effort to embed equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism as imperatives in the school’s missions. She is also the UW Health vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion and leads a cross-functional office that consists of the SMPH Office of Diversity and Equity Transformation and the UW Health Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She facilitates alignment and progress in areas such as learning and education, faculty and staff support, equity in systems, policies and processes, support for basic science departments and their training programs, and programmatic accountability. Bidar-Sielaff is an established leader and effective champion for advancing equity and diversity at the individual, organizational, and community levels.
Afra Smith
Afra Smith, M.B.A., is a diversity, equity & inclusion consultant at the UW–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health. In her role, she helps to support employee resources groups and provides support sessions for providers and staff who identify as Black, Indigenous, and other people of color and LGBTQ+ to share their experiences at work. These experiences are often related to bias, discrimination and disrespect. In addition, Smith acts as a consultant to leaders who have questions and need to consult regarding these shared experiences.
Naomi Takahashi
Naomi Takahashi, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is the director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) at the UW–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health, where she supports DEI program expansion and strategic development. Takahashi’s passion for changing the structures and systems that perpetuate inequities in our community stems from growing up as a multiracial woman in Wisconsin, as well as having participated in a variety of workplace systems in Dane County from more direct-service roles as a clinical social worker, to acting as field faculty within the school of social work, to systems-level functions facilitating DEI organizational change.
