Two OUWB medical students recently were each awarded the 2023 多样性 & 共融优秀学生奖.
Kevin Van and Fanny Huang, both rising M3s, each were recognized at OUWB’s 2023荣誉大会.
The award is among the many initiatives led by OUWB’s 多样性, 股本, 及共融委员会(DEIC).
汤娅·贝利博士.D., associate dean, 多样性, 股本 & 共融及社区参与, said recipients “have demonstrated a sustained commitment to foster the health of a diverse, 公平的, 包容的社区.”
“Recipients of this award exemplify outstanding efforts in diversity, 股本, 和包容 through their achievement and leadership, 专业, 服务奖学金, (and) going above and beyond what is expected of them,”她说。.
“非常荣幸”
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| Huang during a 了解你的食物 event held in 2022 at the demonstration kitchen at Corewell健康 Beaumont Troy Hospital. |
对黄, 多样性的重要性, 股本, 和包容 trace to when she was a youngster, 在克利夫兰长大.
She said the combination of coming from a low-income background and being the daughter of Chinese immigrant parents helped her understand the importance of healthy eating.
As a future physician, Huang said she wants to help others have the same understanding.
While at OUWB, Huang has been involved in helping launch 了解你的食物, a student organization dedicated to helping medical students better understand nutrition for both themselves and patients.
She also has been involved in the Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group, serving on its executive board.
多样性, 股本, 和包容 are important aspects of both groups, she said.
“My goals in working with both organizations are to educate my peers about different lifestyle options…and really catering to culturally sensitive backgrounds,黄说。.
Huang said her interest in the topic is why she graduated from Case Western University with a bachelor’s degree in nutritional biochemistry.
进一步, she was involved in Food Recovery Network and did a lot of research on the topic of cancer and diabetes, 还有胃肠道癌症.
To her, the definition of diversity continues to evolve.
“I feel like right now diversity means asking ‘What is your approach to the patient population you want to treat?’”她说。.
最终, 黄说, she hopes to be the kind of physician that not only cares for patients, 而是一个“致力于赋予他们权力”的人.”
She called it a “great honor” to receive the diversity award.
“感觉很好”
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| Van at the 2022 Ferndale Pride event. |
Van said he approaches “everything in life through the lens of diversity 和包容.”
Like Huang, it goes back to how he grew up. 的范, it was with three older sisters in Denver, where he would eventually become a first-generation college student who earned an undergraduate degree from University of Colorado at Denver.
Van watched his father be diagnosed with liver cell carcinoma, and struggle to receive adequate health care.
It all inspired Van to not only become a doctor, but one who is committed to driving change in the name of diversity, 股本, 和包容. He was drawn to OUWB because he felt the school aligned with what’s important to him.
“The school really values diversity and students who come from a background like mine,他说. “It values students who have these sort of experiences and perspectives on life... the effect they can have on patients.”
在OUWB, Van has been involved in numerous organizations and events that promote diversity, including: leading efforts to create the school’s first 骄傲周; serving as a senator for OUWB 医疗 School Government; on the executive boards for student organizations Queers & Allies and Harm Reduction Alliance; and co-chair of the school’s DEIC Enhancement Strategies subcommittee.
Van also led the effort to create the school’s first 多样性的星期 — a project he hopes will become a regular part of the year at OUWB, and of which he is particularly proud.
“It’s nice to be the person to help promote other populations and students who also have an identity and voice,他说.
With regard to being a recipient of a 2023 多样性 & 共融优秀学生奖, Van called it nice to receive an award for things he would be doing either way.
“It’s definitely a nice feeling to be recognized for just doing the things you care about, 做你自己,他说.
For more information, contact Andrew Dietderich, marketing writer, OUWB, at (电子邮件保护).
To request an interview, visit the OUWB Communications & 市场营销 网页.
