community

Native American Heritage Month

A group of people holding a large flag that says "Celebrating Native American Heritage Month".
Kicking off Native American Heritage Month at UW Medical Center with our flag raising tradition.

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 the goal of sparking interest in Indigenous children today to become physicians and pursue academic careers tomorrow. The UW School of Medicine Association of Native American Medical Students provides support, community and a resource network for enrolled American Indian/Alaska Native students. 

Interested in learning more about local AI/AN contributions in the Pacific Northwest?

Learn more about the history of the recognition and additional learning resources here.

Community Connections – College Career Fair 

  • A group of people mingling in a large gathering space
    High School students involved with projects as a part of the United Negro College Fund mingle before tabling sessions with local companies and universities.
  • A group of people standing around a table to get college readiness advice
    Students interested in S.T.E.M. ask questions about making their way to higher education with hopes of attending medical school.
  • Two men and a woman pose in front of a table at a career fair.
    UW alumni and UW Medicine staff table and connect with high school students across Seattle and Portland about careers in S.T.E.M. Pictured left to right: Noah Stanigar, UW Foster’s Alumni, Tiana Cole, Equity Specialist, and Sean Greenlee, DEIB Program Manager

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 college-ready, enroll in college and persist to graduation. UNCF serves as the nation’s leading advocate for the importance of minority education and community engagement.

During the event, students were able to hear insight on navigating higher education and identify resources offered through UW Medicine’s Office of Healthcare Equity such as Doctor for Day (DFAD), UW Doctors of Color (UDOC), and also learn about various undergraduate pathways to medical school. In addition to gaining college readiness advice, students connected with employers and universities from across the country gathering valuable perspective on the various pathways in S.T.E.M. and beyond.

Faculty Giving Back

  • Dr. Estell Williams and Dr. Jason Deen were honored with mentoring faculty awards for their commitment to providing support to junior faculty and equipping those that follow behind them to succeed.
  • Dr. Michelle Terry facilitated a panel of junior faculty on various barriers to navigating careers in S.T.E.M. for minority faculty.
  • Dr. Estell Williams and Dr. Jason Deen pose with CMFA Chair, Dr. Mariya Sweetwyne.

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 Director for the Center for Workforce Inclusion and Healthcare System Equity (WIHSE) and Vice Chair of Equity Diversity and Inclusion for Department of Surgery and Dr. Jason Deen–  Director & Founder of the UW’s Center for Indigenous Health and a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Washington, in the Divisions of Cardiology for their excellence in mentoring.

The event highlighted the importance of representation in medicine, emphasizing that with the guidance of those that have been down a similar path, those that have been historically underrepresented in S.T.E.M. can forge a path of success with a unique and valuable lens. The purpose of CMFA is to address the professional development needs of UW Medicine faculty from underrepresented groups in medicine and sciences (URMS) by facilitating the dissemination of knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to achieve successful careers in academic medicine. In addition, this committee assists the University in highlighting the unique needs of URMS faculty to aid in the recruitment and retention of URMS faculty to increase the diversity of the medical school faculty.

CMFA Chair, Mariya Sweetwyne, PHD and Assistant Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology hosted the event and contributed on a panel alongside fellow junior faculty in providing insight into building sustainable careers that honor experiences of diverse individuals. Dr. Michelle Terry– Clinical Professor, Assistant Dean for URMS Career Development, UW School of Medicine facilitated the vibrant discussion illuminating the critical need for mentors in equipping future medical professionals to succeed in their careers.

Thank you to Pizza by Ruffin for catering.

Community-Centered Care – Mentoring Matters

A faculty member and woman pose by a poster that displays Public Health information
Dr. Leo Morales MD, PhD, MPH, Professor of Medicine, Assistant Dean for Healthcare Equity, and Affiliate Professor of Public Health and Social Work at the University of Washington (UW) with Public Health student, Evelyn I. Grijalva Martin, at a recent awards ceremony presenting her research in Public Health and Nutrition.

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 one of my preceptors during my dietetic internship-public health rotation, and his mentorship had a meaningful impact on my training.

From the moment I joined the UW Latino Center for Health (LCH), he created a welcoming and inclusive environment that made me feel supported and part of a team dedicated to advancing health equity for the Latine community. In my nomination, I highlighted the generosity and humility he brought to his leadership. Under his guidance, I gained confidence working on interdisciplinary projects and contributing to culturally responsive materials such as the nutrition booklet I developed for LCH. 

Additionally, I highlighted observing Dr. Morales at the Latinx diabetes clinic where I learned so much about diabetes care, patient-centered communication, and the importance of culturally responsive practice. His ability to connect with patients and advocate for community-centered care was inspiring.

Overall, Dr. Morales modeled the type of leadership, professionalism, and compassion I hope to carry forward in my own career. Nominating him for the Outstanding Preceptor Award reflected the profound impact he had on my growth as a dietetic intern and soon to be registered dietitian. 

Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 20 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

An annual event honoring our trans and gender diverse siblings who we’ve lost to anti-trans violence and systemic harm.

Presented by UTOPIA Washington, Seattle Pride, and Green River College.

Join us as we honor our trans and gender-diverse siblings whose lives were taken too soon by anti-trans violence and systemic harm. This event will feature an all-trans lineup of performers who will guide us through a powerful celebration of trans lives, resilience, and community.

Doors open at 6PM

Program starts 7PM

Free

Green River College

12401 Southeast 320th Street
Auburn, Washington 98092 United States + Google Map
RSVP

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Harborview’s Postal Detective & Community Builder

A man with glasses smiles in front of a world map.

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 and takes you on a journey from the lens of the mailroom.

Kenn Arning, Harborview’s longtime mail clerk and self-described ‘postal detective’ has sorted 5,000 pieces of mail a day, tracked down misdirected packages, and built connections across every department in the hospital for more than four decades.

Kenn shares how his Quaker education, global travels, and passion for learning about people and the places they are from shaped his work—and why Harborview’s mission keeps him coming back year after year. This is a conversation about service, curiosity, and the unseen networks that hold a hospital community together.

Listen now at the below link:

Provider Pulse Ep. 17: Kenn Arning – 47 years as Harborview’s Postal Detective and Community Builder

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do by Studs Terkel

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59649.Working

FIUTS: Foundation for International Understanding Through Students.

https://www.fiuts.org

Bridging Community through Social Justice

Estelita’s Library is a community space for people to gather, raise their voices, and inspire each other, co-founded by married couple Dr. Estell Williams and Professor Edwin Lindo, both of UW Medicine. Initially established as a library for their daughter, Estella, to empower her and help her grow alongside her community, their mission has expanded beyond their family to the broader Seattle community as they tackle the affordable housing issue in the city. Their social justice and community library began in the Central District and has flourished as a hub for connection, social justice, and education.  

The new location and headquarters in Beacon Hill will function as an event space accessible to the community as they aim to fundraise $28 million for a larger cultural center and affordable-housing project. This project will foster opportunities to share culture and literature while also creating housing stability for families in need. Instead of securing funding from federal grants that can be overly restrictive, they are utilizing city and state resources and fundraising among community and philanthropy that aligns with their mission. Edwin spoke about how his sense of community has evolved as they strive toward their goals for the project: “To me, community means collective care and shared responsibility. Estelita’s has shown me how much we can achieve when we center relationships and mutual support.”

So far, they have raised $8.5 million toward the goal. The housing project, appropriately named The Solidarity House, will be comprised of family-sized units: 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom options will address the needs of families, particularly in the Beacon Hill community that is majority Black, Filipino, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Latinx.  

On the future of Estelita’s, Edwin shared,­­ “What excites me most about Estelita’s mission is seeing how the space fosters connection, critical conversations, and self-determination among the most marginalized communities. My biggest hope is that as we grow, Estelita’s remains a place where community members feel empowered and heard.” Both Edwin and Estell were interviewed about the library and service to their community for a TV news segment on local Cascade PBS.

You can donate to support the mission of Estelita’s library and contribute to resolving housing insecurity for the most vulnerable in our community here. Follow their Instagram here @estelitas_library.

  • A woman and man hold a sign that says "Estelita's Library" in pink and white text while a child walks by and a woman smiles on in the background. They are standing in front of the library.
    Estell Williams and Edwin Lindo recently secured a new location for their headquarters in Beacon Hill for Estelita’s Library, their community social justice library. The organization is seeking to expand and build a cultural center and affordable housing project.
  • A Black man sits outside of Estelita's Library while a couple of folks browse the book options behind him.
    Folks peruse the new Estelita’s Library location in Beacon Hill.
  • Two Black men standing side by side, smiling and one is holding a photo of the Solidarity House Project blueprint. The man on the right is wearing a shirt that says "Estelita's Library, Moving Towards Justice One Book at A Time".
    Community members hold up a digital rendering of the cultural center and affordable-housing project, the Solidarity House.
  • A group of folks sitting around in a circle directing their attention to a woman speaking.
    Community members gather

Community Collaborations –Equipping the Next Gen in Healthcare

Check out this recent video from the EthnoMed team about the recent Youth Job Fair hosted by YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish this Fall.

The Youth Job Fair hosted by YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish this past September offered opportunity for UW Medicine to connect with aspiring healthcare professionals and doctors in partnership with EthnoMed, the Office of Healthcare Equity, Community House Calls, and the Harborview Medicine DEI Team. Thank you to Asmeret Tesfalem, Bridget Garland, Martine Pierre-Louis, and Jennifer Huong for showing that careers in healthcare are accessible and attainable for youth from marginalized communities.

Left to right: Bridget Garland, Asmeret Tesfalem, Jeniffer Houng, Martine Pierre-Louis, James Sherrell
University of Washington Staff tabling at an event and interacting with the public
Left to right: Jeniffer Houng, Asmeret Tesfalem, Martine Pierre-Louis, and James Sherrell

The EthnoMed team shared information on their shadowing, mentorship, and internship opportunities for younger students and classes, and rotations and projects for graduate students, medical residents, and fellows. The Office of Healthcare Equity amplified the various programs in the Center for Workforce Inclusion and Healthcare System Equity (WIHSE), whose mission is to liberate all our communities’ brilliant potential to be future healthcare leaders. Young students had the chance to learn about how they can participate in all WIHSE programs, including Doctor for a Day, UDOC, SHPEP, and SHPEPLE. They learned about our DFAD monthly events (Sep–Jun), the upcoming UDOC and SHPEP application cycles, and the mission of the SHPEPLE program.

By promoting these opportunities, the WIHSE team aims to inspire youth with a sense of belonging and empowerment as they pursue futures in healthcare. Doctor for a Day’s purpose is to inspire and encourage educationally and economically under-resourced students to consider healthcare careers. Bridget Garland, Project Manager at the Office of Healthcare Equity shared, “Having a strong community and support network early in your career is key to gaining more experience, learning about the field, and having a sense of belonging—so seeing the friendships and professional networking between students who participate in WIHSE programs flourish is definitely most rewarding.”

You can learn more about community engagement events and programming offered across UW Medicine by heading to the links below. James Sherrell, Program Operations Specialist at Harborview Medical Center, spoke about the resources provided at the YWCA event: “My favorite is Doctor for a Day, where students work with our University of Washington School of Medicine and get the chance to see themselves in life-saving roles.”

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 doing some kind of mental health implementation work within their organization (e.g., improving an existing program or establishing a new practice). CMHIS is housed at the Stanford Center for Dissemination and Implementation within Stanford University School of Medicine. They have partnered with colleagues in five regional Hubs to identify and develop resources and support organizations and systems to prepare, implement, and sustain effective mental health programs and practices. The Pacific West Hub is housed within the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The Hub provides tangible and practical support so systems and leadership can make real changes that meet the needs of the people they serve while increasing accessibility to mental health care. Learn more about these opportunities to improve mental health access and care below.

Decoding Data through Storytelling

Data Storytelling: Using What You Know to Strengthen What You Do

Two concurrent series running November–March.

Join us to build your capacity in transforming the data you already collect into powerful tools for learning, action, and impact. Explore how to leverage data and use storytelling to support your programs and communicate purpose, successes, and needs to funders, partners, and clients.

Learn More & Apply: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=peLXMdi9TkGel76pmOvf4XP1j0KYwN9LgJi4qdMblrVUNTZTQ1FGMEdNNUYzRzhXWktPUEsyOUlIQS4u&route=shorturl

Application deadline: October 31, 2025 

Cultivating Sustainable Community

Community Engagement: Deepening Partnerships to Strengthen Impact

Two concurrent series running December–April.

Come learn strategies to make community engagement more authentic, reciprocal, and sustainable! Whether you’re launching a new initiative or strengthening existing efforts, you’ll gain practical tools for building trust and creating lasting impact.

Learn More & Apply: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=peLXMdi9TkGel76pmOvf4XP1j0KYwN9LgJi4qdMblrVUMFFESzFZQ0o3RFNRM0pUUlhVUlcwMjhERi4u&route=shorturl


Application deadline: November 5, 2025 

Seattle Black College Expo

November 15 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Join the 8th Annual Seattle Black College Expo! It’s free and open to all! This event offers on-the-spot college admissions, scholarships, and resources to support students on their educational journey.

Free

Rainier Beach High School

https://www.thecollegeexpo.org/expos/seattle-bce-2025

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