Message from Mark
In the summer of 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Research & Development (ORD) formalized its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with the formation of a DEI working group. A group of some 20+ volunteers from within ORD expressed its commitment to diversifying the VA research workforce, promoting research on minority health and health disparities, and ensuring equity in all scientific activities within our sphere of influence, including peer review.
This commitment is fueled by demographic data on the VA research workforce showing that at this time, our workforce does not adequately reflect the diversity of the Veterans we serve. Moreover, ORD leadership believes that scientists and trainees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences bring a valuable mix of perspectives and talents to help address the complex health problems faced by Veterans.
The Diversity Equity and Inclusion Working Group (DEIWG), which has now been meeting regularly for over 2 years, is working to fulfill its mission of diversifying the workforce by providing training and funding opportunities to investigators who are currently underrepresented in the health sciences. Most notably, the DEIWG has been expanding the range of career levels that ORD typically supports. We recognize that individuals from certain communities may face additional barriers when it comes to achieving terminal degrees. To address this barrier, the DEIWG launched ORD-sponsored Summer Research Programs (SRPs). In June 2022, we welcomed 115 student participants at 21 VA sites across the country. This program is a cornerstone of ORD’s efforts to strengthen and diversify the VA scientific workforce by offering research experiences to Veterans, children of Veterans, and underrepresented students.
In addition, ORD expanded its funding opportunities for trainees who already possess a terminal degree by offering Research Supplements to Promote Diversity. This mechanism provides up to 2 years of support for an early-career scientist from an underrepresented background. Each supplement awardee works with a senior funded VA mentor who assists them in preparing for a VA Career Development Award application, which will provide up to 5 years of additional support as the early-career trainee transitions to independence. Three cohorts of awardees have been supported via this mechanism since 2021 (32 awardees in total). DEIWG also offered a new opportunity in 2022, Research Supplements to Promote Collaborations to Enhance Diversity in VA Research, with three awardees in the first cohort. These supplements are intended to support collaborations between VA Investigators and faculty at non-VA institutions, including, but not limited to Minority Serving Institutions.
Furthermore, we recognize that a comprehensive DEI plan must also focus on the retention of investigators from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. With that in mind, we have developed an intensive proposal-writing workshop for Career Development applicants. This workshop targets young investigators who were not successful on their initial CDA submissions and provides them with tools and training to increase their chances for success on subsequent submissions. Additionally, the DEIWG also provides funds for field-based training on DEI and professional development courses for underrepresented research employees at VA Medical Centers.
Finally, ORD has expanded its commitment to research health disparities affecting minority or other vulnerable populations. We have added a statement to all Merit RFAs to communicate to the field that research aimed at identifying, understanding, and reducing disparities is a priority for all services. Our hope is that this initiative will encourage investigators from all disciplines to consider how their work impacts Veterans from underrepresented groups. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought health inequities under laser focus, and the DEIWG stands ready to help meet this challenge.
In summary, we recognize that addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion requires a multifaceted strategy that considers the many touch points where barriers exist. The DEIWG is optimistic that ORD’s commitment to these values will facilitate the VA’s mission of delivering outstanding care and services to our nation’s Veterans, and to their families and beneficiaries.
All of this would not have been possible without the hard work of an amazing dedicated DEIWG team. I want to thank my fellow co-chairs Cendrine Robinson (past) and Shakeria Cohen (new) and the DEIWG Membership and the Management Committee. It has been my honor to lead this team from its very formation to the great accomplishments the team has made up to today.
The DEIWG team members are Alex Chiu, Brian Schulz, Carol B. Fowler, Carole Woodle, Chinagozi Ugwu, Christopher Bever, Emily Evans, Jane Battles, Janet Jackson, Kellie Gore, Kristina Nord, Lina Kubli, Liza Catucci, Melissa Braganza, Miriam Smyth, Rachel Ramoni, Robert O'Brien, Shirley Groer, Stephanie L. Guerra, Tiffin Ross-Shepard, and Wendy Tenhula.
Members of the DEIWG Management Committee are Angela Foster, Carol Roberts, Christina Williams, Jenish Patel, Patricia Dorn, Shakeria Cohen, Tanya N. Byfield, Vetisha McClair, and Ying-Yee Kong.
--Mark Roltsch, CSRD, DEIWG Co-Chair
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