Diversity Dialogues in Medicine

Diversity Dialogues in Medicine (DDIM) is a dynamic peer education and community building program at the Georgetown School of Medicine (GUSOM). GUSOM appointed Peer Dialogue Facilitators seek to educate themselves and others about diversity and intersections of identity and intergroup dynamics in order to build common understandings across groups.

Diversity Dialogues is a year-long program during the school year (August-May) that provides a unique learning opportunity for GUMC students to engage on a range of identity topics including but not limited to: race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, and faith. Sponsored by the Office for Diversity & Inclusion at the Georgetown School of Medicine, dialogues are intergroup, gathering people from multiple backgrounds and identities for sustained, ongoing dialogue for 1 – 2 hours per month.

A group of students sits at tables
Students speak with one another in a classroom
Students stand together in Proctor Harvey Auditorium

The goal of the Diversity Dialogues in Medicine is to:

  • Engage across difference of perspective and identity
  • Foster intergroup community through a diversity of identities (doctors, patients, families, teams of healthcare professionals)
  • Explore personal experience, societal issues, health care challenges
  • Provide tools for navigating difference on and off campus

As a result of participating, peer dialogue facilitators will derive the following benefits of this program:

  • Hone and finesse strong facilitation and robust group conversation skills
  • Develop a set of communication and listening skills that will help you to better serve diverse patient populations
  • Receive in-depth training around discussing and deepening understanding around diversity and inclusion issues
  • Learn the skills of public narrative to tell your story of self, us and now to inspire action and commitment around social issues
  • Opportunity to build up your CV and portfolio

  • Coordinate facilitations related to social justice and diversity topics
  • Conduct training sessions for student groups and academic classes to deepen their awareness of social identities, systems of power, and intergroup dialogue
  • Serve as peer facilitator who runs monthly discussion groups on campus

Topic 1: Setting the Scene: Race, Ethnicity & Identity Exploration and Establishing a Common Language

Topic 2: Gender, Sexuality & Bias

Topic 3: Power, Privilege, and Getting Real

Topic 4:  Challenges & Opportunities at Georgetown School of Medicine

Topic 5: Application & Communication of Cultural Sensitive and Racially Aware Lenses

Facilitators will also learn the art and craft of public narrative. This training is devised by Dr. Marshall Ganz at the Harvard Kennedy School (trainer and organizer who worked alongside Cesar Chavez with the United Farm Workers and also devised a grassroots organizing campaign for President Barack Obama’s winning 2008 presidential election campaign). Participants will learn to construct their stories of self and their stories as community members in order to mobilize choice-making and action around issues for a change.

Diversity Dialogue Sessions are TBA

Deadline & Selection:

  • Applications are TBA

Up to 8 Peer Facilitators are usually selected. To be eligible to facilitate, Peer Facilitators must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a M1 or M2 during the academic year
  • Be a currently enrolled student of the Georgetown School of Medicine
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Be in good standing with financial aid and registrar procedures
  • Adhere to highest standards of professionalism and not be in receipt of any physicians incident report forms or professionalism write-ups
  • Be in compliance with all other university requirements
  • Sign a GUSOM confidentiality clause and commit to preserving a safe community for dialogue and collaboration
  • Complete the online application

Preferred Skills: Individuals ideally will also have experience in at least 1 of the following:

  • Experience as a participant or facilitator with an outside program, campus group, club, service program or church
  • Any previous coursework or community service work related to the discussion, dialogue, group dynamics, cultural studies
  • Any transferable skills/experiences related to group facilitation

Total Estimated Time Commitment for the whole year: 25 hours (16  training hours and up to 6 facilitation/prep hours).

Training (16 hours)

Training is led by diversity consultants, university faculty, and staff and includes workshops around cross-cultural engagement, conflict management, active listening and communication skill builders for facilitators. The training also includes pre-dialogue group preparation, which involves training around running dialogue groups. In addition, comprehensive workshops focusing on cross-cultural sensitivity and skill builders around non-verbal communication, open-ended questions, and related tools will be provided. Individuals will conduct a mock dialogue session and will receive training on how to develop dialogue sessions.

Facilitators are selected to work in intergroup pairs based on a shared dialogue topic of interest. Facilitators spend time preparing for their monthly dialogue group, planning session content, and marketing the discussion. Facilitators meet at least for 1 hour with their co-facilitator, 1 hour with staff, and spend time outside planning/reflecting for their 1-2 hour session.

  1. Lead a 1-2 hour Diversity Dialogue Each Month, with each pair leading a minimum of three dialogues total each year)
  2. Attend a facilitator midpoint and end semester debrief with Dean Cheng, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion
  3. Faculty/Staff Mentor: Co-facilitators are paired with a faculty/staff advisor who provides valuable input, coaching, and professional feedback around dialogue facilitation and expertise on the identity topic. This approach has led to stronger professional and career development between facilitators and their advisor.

Dialogue Sessions – Minimum of 2 sessions. (1-2 hour delivery, 1.5 hours prep and 30min debrief) for a total of 6-7 hours throughout the year.

Come and find out what it’s like before you apply!

Questions:

Please contact our office at somdiversityandinclusion@georgetown.edu