OB/GYN Diversity, Inclusion & Advocacy

The principal values that underlie diversity, inclusion, and advocacy are equity, justice, respect, and dignity for all. While diversity and inclusion focus on who we are and how we work together in our workplace, advocacy is how we apply our values to take a stand on policy issues that affect our patients and professions.

All OB/GYN trainees, faculty, and staff are welcome to join our DIA Committee in advancing equity-focused priorities within the department and the institution. The OB/GYN DIA Committee meets quarterly and we encourage anyone with interest in this work to reach out and get involved. We’re also proud to note that several OB/GYN residents and fellows are engaged in BIDMC’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) Diversity, Inclusion, and Advocacy Committee, which was established to provide a voice and resources for trainees who are underrepresented in medicine.

We have fantastic work happening in the OB/GYN DIA Committee and we need your energy, ideas, and passion to keep these crucial initiatives moving forward. Below are the subcommittees and working groups:

Administrative Staff and Nursing Sub-Committees

• Administrative Staff Subcommittee:
  Co-leaders: Riki MacKillop and Margie Stuppard
• Nursing Subcommittee:
  Leader: Anny Garcia, RN

Working Groups

• Medical Education and Advocacy
• Equity for Patients and Communities
• Workforce Diversity, Inclusion, and Retention

These subcommittees and working groups meet monthly to bi-monthly and develop one to two goals to advance each year.

We Support Resident Recruitment and Pipeline Programs

• Our OB/GYN DIA portal website showcases departmental activities, publications, photos
• We do a holistic review of residency applications with added objectivity and close review of applicants who are underrepresented in medicine (UIM) to reduce bias
• We actively participate in HMS UIM activities, including the HMS Residency Showcase and HMS Visiting Clerkship Program
• We reach out through BIDMC-sponsored events at local high schools, Student National Medical Association, and Latino Medical Student Association

We Enhance Faculty and Trainee Development

• Grand Rounds on topics related to unconscious bias, upstander training, and health equity
• Mentorship program for residents and faculty
• Dissemination of Harvard Medical School Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Partnership events
• GME Diversity, Inclusion, & Advocacy Council members and faculty sponsors
• Advocacy Chief Resident who serves as a liaison between the DIA committee and the residents.
  • Dr. David Toffey is the current Advocacy Chief. Drs. Eva Luo and Rachel Blake, current faculty, were prior Advocacy Chiefs in their fourth year.

We Foster Inclusion and Community

• Department-wide outdoor summer gathering September 2021
• DIA Committee outdoor summer gathering August 2021
• Nametags with role identification and gender pronouns
• Trainee and faculty meet-and-greet breakfast around shared advocacy interests
• Department-wide Solidarity with Black Lives Matter in 2020 and 2021

Cross-Departmental Equity-Focused Quality Improvement Initiatives

• Patient-facing information about COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy in multiple languages
• Patient experience survey and welcome signs

Advocacy Events

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Congressional Leadership Conference
• Local fundraising events
• Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
• Community Health Centers: Dimock, Bowdoin, Fenway
• Greater Boston Food Bank
• Documentary screenings and discussions
• Asylum evaluations
• MA ACOG Advocacy Day
• Op-ed on PFML Act

While we have accomplished so much to advance diversity, inclusion, and advocacy, there are always more opportunities to improve! Please reach out to us with any questions. We look forward to connecting with you!

Publications

Molina RL, Ardalan S, Scott J. Impact of a US asylum decision on sexual and reproductive health and rights: a call to action for health and legal professionals. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2019 May;27(2):1598232. PMID: 31533585

Ricciotti HA, Dodge LE, Aluko A, Hofler LG, Hacker MR. Geographic Comparison of Women in Academic Obstetrics and Gynecology Department-Based Leadership Roles. Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Oct;130(4):853-861. PMID: 28885431

Hofler LG, Hacker MR, Dodge LE, Schutzberg R, Ricciotti HA. Comparison of Women in Department Leadership in Obstetrics and Gynecology With Those in Other Specialties. Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Mar;127(3):442-7. PMID: 26855110

Hofler L, Hacker MR, Dodge LE, Ricciotti HA. Subspecialty and gender of obstetrics and gynecology faculty in department-based leadership roles. Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Feb;125(2):471-6. PMID: 25568998

Molina RL, Patel SJ, Scott J, Schantz-Dunn J, Nour NM. Striving for Respectful Maternity Care Everywhere. Matern Child Health J. 2016 Sep; 20(9): 1769-1773. PMID 27095032.

Molina RL, Pace EW. A Renewed Focus on Maternal Health in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2017 Nov 2;377(18):1705-1707. PMID 29091560.

Murray Horwitz ME, Molina RL, Snowden JM. Postpartum Care in the United States – New Policies for a New Paradigm. N Engl J Med. 2018 Nov 1; 379(18):1691-1693. PMID: 30380385.

Essien U, Molina RL, Lasser K. Strengthening the Postpartum Transition of Care to Address Racial Disparities in Maternal Health. J Natl Med Assoc. 2018 Nov 29. PMID: 30503575.

Baecher-Lind L, Abbott J, Atkins KM, Nijjar JB, Royce C, Schiff L, Ricciotti HA. A Call to Action to Address Gender Equity Within Our Specialty: Time's Up on Waiting for Change. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Jun; 131(6):961-963. PMID: 29742671.

Molina RL, Ricciotti H, Chie L, Luckett R, Wylie BJ, Woolcock E, Scott J. Creating a culture of micro-affirmations to overcome gender-based micro-inequities in academic medicine. Am J Med. 2019 Feb 01. PMID: 30716299.

Mendiola M, Modest AM, Huang GC. Striving for diversity: national survey of OB-GYN program directors reporting residency recruitment strategies for underrepresented minorities. Journal of Surgical Education, 2021;78(5):1476-1482.

Winkelman WD, Hacker MR, Anand M, Lefevre R, Richardson ML. Racial and ethnic disparities in obliterative procedures for the treatment of vaginal prolapse. Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, 2021. In press.

Presentations

Tajh Ferguson, MD and Rose Molina, MD, MPH. Beyond Diversity: Striving for Inclusion in our OBGYN Department / Grand Rounds Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, BIDMC. February 5, 2020.

Rose Molina, MD, MPH. Health Equity and Advocacy in the Time of COVID-19 / BIDMC ObGyn Resident Lecture. April 22, 2020.

Rose Molina, MD, MPH. Health Equity in the COVID-19 Response / BIDMC General Medicine Grand Rounds. May 1, 2020.

Rose Molina, MD, MPH. Health Equity in the COVID-19 Response: A Discussion to Connect Across Departments at BIDMC / BIDMC Academy Session. May 5, 2020.

Rose Molina, MD, MPH. COVID-19 and Health Equity: A Focus on Health System Solutions to Magnified Inequities / Harvard Medical Grand Rounds. July 9, 2020.

Huma Farid, MD and Daniela Febres-Cordero, MD. Visiting Clerkship Program Presents: Harvard Affiliated Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Programs. June 23, 2020.

Tajh Ferguson, MD. Real Talk: Race, Equity and Disparities in Medicine/ University Hospitals Cleveland Medical/Case Western Reserve University. July 16, 2020.

Mendiola ML. A National Survey to Examine Recruitment Strategies for Underrepresented Minorities in OB-GYN Residency Programs. Harvard Medical School Fellows’ Poster Presentation 2017.

Lightfoot M, DiNapoli M, Mendiola M. Improving Access to Care: Matching Underrepresented Minorities in OB/GYN Residency Programs. CREOG-APGO Annual Meeting 2017.

Mendiola M, Ricciotti H, Modest A, Huang G. A National Survey to Examine Recruitment Strategies for Underrepresented Minorities in OBGYN Residency Programs. Medical Education Day, BIDMC Shapiro Center 2017.

Hall M, Crocker J, Chie L, Fernandez L, Mendiola M, Olveczky D, Smith C, Sutton J, Tibbles C, Woolcock E, Cohen D. Teaching Strategies to Promote Healthcare Equity: Impact of an Interdisciplinary Faculty Development Program. Medical Education Day, BIDMC Shapiro Center 2017.

Mendiola M, Ricciotti H, Modest A, Huang G. A National Survey to Examine Recruitment Strategies for Underrepresented Minorities in OBGYN Residency Programs. CREOG-APGO Annual Meeting 2018.

Advocacy Publications

Jirmanus L, LaRocque R, Molina R, Chatterjee A. Listen to Essential Workers First. Then, We Can Consider Reopening The Economy. WBUR Commentary. 07 May 2020. Read the publication.

Farid, H. The ‘Shame and Rage’ of Being a Minority in America Kept Me Silent. Not Anymore. WBUR Commentary. 13 July 2020. Read the publication.

Recognition

• Dr. Yvonne Gomez-Carrion - Massachusetts Medical Society LGBTQ Health Award 2018
• Dr. Monica Mendiola - Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award 2019

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Rose Molina, MD, MPH (pronouns: she/her/ella)
Director, OB/GYN Diversity, Inclusion and Advocacy Committee
Email Dr. Molina

Monica Mendiola, MD (pronouns: she/her)
Faculty Advisor, GME Diversity, Inclusion and Advocacy Council
Email Dr. Mendiola

Harvard Medical School

Joan Reede, MD, MPH, MBA
Dean For Diversity and Community Partnership
Harvard Medical School

Alden Landry, MD
Emergency Medicine – BIDMC
Faculty Assistant Director
Office of Diversity and Community Partnership
Harvard Medical School

Learn about the Harvard Medical School Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership.