Blogs, News & Articles
Hear from the voice of the Office of Healthcare Equity and others’ writings on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Featured stories from the Office of Healthcare Equity
- Latino Center to Strengthen Diabetes and Cardiovascular Health for Latinx Communities
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has awarded an $80,000contract to the University of Washington’s Latino Center for Health to expand community-basedscreening and improve referrals for diabetes and cardiovascular care among Latinx residentsacross Washington State. Through community partnerships and capacity building, the Latino Center for Health provides leadership through innovative research that promotes culturally responsive evidence-based practices, informs health policy, and advances the health and well-being of our growing… Read more: Latino Center to Strengthen Diabetes and Cardiovascular Health for Latinx Communities - Medicine for the People – Tubman Center for Health & Freedom
MLK Tribute Awards 2026 – Distinguished Service Awardee Hear from Chief Operating Officer and Founder of the Tubman Center for Health & Freedom, Danisha Jefferson-Abye, about how they are transforming healthcare for the community and honoring the heroic legacy of activist and nurse, Harriet Tubman. They recently received the MLK Tribute Distinguished Service Award honor from UW Medicine. Mission “The Tubman Center for Health & Freedom addresses health and wellness… Read more: Medicine for the People – Tubman Center for Health & Freedom - Dr. Estell Williams awarded as UW’S 2026 honoree for Black History Month

- Igniting Inspiration for Careers in Healthcare
SHPEP 2026 Information Sessions The Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) is hosting information sessions for the last cohort of the upcoming 2026 offering this January. If you know someone interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, SHPEP provides a vibrant community of aspiring healthcare professionals focused on academic enrichment for 6 weeks in the summer. SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students in… Read more: Igniting Inspiration for Careers in Healthcare - Connecting Communities – CERSE
The Center for Evaluation and Research for STEM Equity based in the Department of Sociology at the University of Washington creates opportunities for fields and programs including research to become more accessible for those that have historically been excluded. Through program evaluation rooted in an equitable lens, CERSE offers evidence-based insights to improve programs and practices to become more inclusive and participatory, cultivating meaningful relationships with the communities they work… Read more: Connecting Communities – CERSE - Doctor for a Day – Students Driving Change
Doctor for a Day (DFAD) is a monthly themed academy that exposes K-12 youth to health careers through hands-on activities. DFAD partners with clinical departments, school districts and non-profits to hold workshops led by medical students as near peer mentors bringing healthcare professionals to K-12 youth to serve as mentors and role models. DFAD has reached over 3,000 students and serves over 560 students per academic year. They recently held a successful… Read more: Doctor for a Day – Students Driving Change - National First-Generation Celebration Recognition
Paving the way as the first to achieve higher education is a feat that First-Generation Celebration Day honors across the country on November 8th, led by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the NASPA Center for First-Generation Student Success. The Office of Faculty Affairs and the Office of Healthcare Equity recognized the remarkable achievements and experiences of First-Generation faculty across the University of Washington School of Medicine this month. This… Read more: National First-Generation Celebration Recognition - Native American Heritage Month
UW Medicine and the Office of Healthcare Equity were grateful to honor and celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions, histories and contributions of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples in the United States this November. We invite you to reflect during the holidays on the rich history of the AI/AN communities. The UW Center for Indigenous Health provides outreach, mentorship, community building, research support and career guidance to Indigenous students and faculty. It also sponsors specialized programs with… Read more: Native American Heritage Month - Community Connections – College Career Fair
This past September, UW Alumni And UW Medicine Staff tabled for UW Medicine with the United Negro College Fund at Seattle University speaking to high schoolers from across Seattle and Portland that are engaged in projects interested in different career fields at the University of Washington. UNCF’s North Star is to increase the total annual number of African American college graduates by focusing on activities that ensure more students are… Read more: Community Connections – College Career Fair - Faculty Giving Back
Faculty at UW Medicine are focused on giving back and contributing to the communities that helped build their careers in Seattle and beyond. At the recent Fall Welcome held by the Committee for Minority Faculty Advancement (CMFA) in collaboration with the Office of Healthcare Equity (OHCE) and School of Medicine, two outstanding mentorship awards were shared for early-to-mid-career faculty and the cumulative impact of senior-faculty. Those awards recipients honored were Dr. Estell Williams– Executive… Read more: Faculty Giving Back - Community-Centered Care – Mentoring Matters
Shared by Evelyn I. Grijalva Martine (she/her/ella) Research Coordinator University of Washington | School of Public Health — In the summer of 2025, I had the privilege of nominating Dr. Leo Morales for an Outstanding Preceptor Award. This award recognizes a preceptor who made a positive impact during the dietetic training. This is a supervised training that must be completed to sit for the registered dietitian exam. Dr. Morales served as… Read more: Community-Centered Care – Mentoring Matters - Harborview’s Postal Detective & Community Builder
EthnoMed is Harborview Medical Center’s ethnic medicine website, developed for clinicians and healthcare providers working with immigrant and refugee populations in the greater Seattle area. The site offers culturally relevant information on immigration, health beliefs, clinical care, and translated materials for patients. Their recently launched podcast features a segment called “Provider Pulse” where they hold candid conversations with frontline clinicians and medical residents. Episode 17 offers insight beyond clinical roles… Read more: Harborview’s Postal Detective & Community Builder - National Latino Physician Day Recap
This past Hispanic/Latinx Heritage month was filled with vibrant celebrations honoring the contributions of Hispanic/Latinx people across UW Medicine and the broader community. The Office of Healthcare Equity and Office of Faculty affairs proudly sponsored the Network of Underrepresented Residents and Fellows and the Latino Medical Student Association as they co-hosted the first National Latino Physician Day at UW Medicine. National Latino Physician Day’s mission is to address the Latinx… Read more: National Latino Physician Day Recap - Indigenous Health Series
Indigenous Health Series – Join us for a three-part series on Indigenous health this November. This series will span sessions on historical trauma and indigenous health policy to the current state of Indigenous health and decolonizing medicine. We will end the event with a panel to better understand different perspectives on being Indigenous here at UW Medicine. Registration Links Below: Audience: All UW Medicine & Community Members Indigenous Health Series… Read more: Indigenous Health Series
Healthcare Equity related News & Articles
- Open Position – OHCE Assistant Director, Learning Environment
Job Description POSITION PURPOSE The Office of Healthcare Equity (OHCE) at UW Medicine is seeking a dynamic and visionary Assistant Director for Learning Environment Programs… Read more: Open Position – OHCE Assistant Director, Learning Environment - Catalyzing Career Development – Center for Mental Health Implementation Support
The Center for Mental Health Implementation Support offers career development opportunities for those that work in a mental health system, organization, or program and are… Read more: Catalyzing Career Development – Center for Mental Health Implementation Support - Women’s Perspectives: Trust in the Reproductive Health Care System and Key Sources of Information
Highlights A nationally representative sample of women in the United States polled in March 2025 by the AAMC Center for Health Justice revealed that: Learn… Read more: Women’s Perspectives: Trust in the Reproductive Health Care System and Key Sources of Information - SHPEP Alumni Take on Medical School
The Summer Health Professions Education Program is a free 6-week summer enrichment program focused on improving access to information and resources for college students interested… Read more: SHPEP Alumni Take on Medical School - Call for Proposals: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Rapid Response: Reinvesting in Racial and Indigenous Health Equity ResearchThe purpose of this call for proposals (CFP) is to meet the current moment by supporting timely, actionable health equity research that has been interrupted… Read more: Call for Proposals: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Rapid Response: Reinvesting in Racial and Indigenous Health Equity Research
- Join the Youth Voice Research Liaison Program
Join the Youth Voice Research Liaison Program Become a Youth Research Liaison and take part in groundbreaking research that empowers your voice and your community.… Read more: Join the Youth Voice Research Liaison Program - 5 Scripts to Use When You Disagree With Your Doctor
Originally published by UW Medicine’s Right as Rain It’s normal to feel unsure or even hesitant when your doctor suggests a treatment plan that doesn’t… Read more: 5 Scripts to Use When You Disagree With Your Doctor - Health & Well‑Being Findings from the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey
The 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS) is the largest survey that examines the experiences of transgender people in the United States. The National Center for… Read more: Health & Well‑Being Findings from the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey - Article Highlights Language and Cultural Barriers in Healthcare for Latino Communities
A recent article in WA Latino News examines the persistent language and cultural barriers that many Latino residents face when navigating healthcare in Seattle and… Read more: Article Highlights Language and Cultural Barriers in Healthcare for Latino Communities - Gender-Affirming Care and Insurance: New Podcast Episode
What are your rights when seeking gender-affirming care in Washington? What does insurance cover, and where can you turn for support? In a special Pride… Read more: Gender-Affirming Care and Insurance: New Podcast Episode - UW Medicine Faculty Publish on Equity and Healthcare Quality
A new article in Frontiers in Public Health, “Let’s Not Steal Equity from Our Patients in the Name of Quality,” was co-authored by Edwin Lindo… Read more: UW Medicine Faculty Publish on Equity and Healthcare Quality - Tubman Health Brings Community-Owned Healthcare to South Seattle
Founded by Danisha Jefferson-Abye during 2020’s pandemic and racial justice movement, Tubman Health operates two South Seattle clinics with a third planned for 2027. Their… Read more: Tubman Health Brings Community-Owned Healthcare to South Seattle - Erica Crittendon Receives National Excellence in Public Health Award
Erica Crittendon, a graduating UWSOM medical student, has been awarded the 2025 Excellence in Public Health Award by the U.S. Public Health Service Physician Professional… Read more: Erica Crittendon Receives National Excellence in Public Health Award - MLK Day Rally and March
In recognition of Martin Luther King Day, the Department of Medicine Diversity Council, in partnership with UW Medicine, welcomes support and participation in the MLK Day… Read more: MLK Day Rally and March