dr. Tina Simpson will join Tulane on October 1 as Chief Clinical Diversity Officer of the School of Medicine.
As part of Tulane’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life, including clinical training and patient care, as a core value, the School of Medicine Dr. Tina Simpson named its first Chief Clinical Diversity Officer.
Simpson, who will join Tulane on October 1, will work directly with school leadership and local health partners to ensure they continually strive to build and support an environment where patients, interns and caregivers respect and value each other . This includes leading initiatives that increase the diversity of the physician workforce, build safe and inclusive learning environments, and promote equity by addressing health inequalities that impact outcomes for Black, Indigenous, Colored, LGBTQ+ and other patients from marginalized communities. communities.
“Overcoming racial inequalities in healthcare that result in disparate patient outcomes for individuals coming from marginalized communities is a core value and focus of Tulane as we strive daily to create a community that is inclusive, welcoming and supportive of all” Tulane President said. Michael A. Fitts.
He this week sent a joint message with Dean Lee Hamm to the School of Medicine community to announce the appointment of Dr. Simpson to be announced.
Since his 2014 arrival in Tulane, Fitts has made creating an inclusive university dedicated to equality, diversity, compassion, respect and opportunity for all a key pillar of his governance. Efforts in this area include long-term university commitments through the numerous initiatives of the Presidential Commission on Racial Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; establishment of the Center for Academic Equity; more than doubling expenditure on EDI programming; hiring the university’s first Chief Diversity Officer and much more.
Simpson is currently vice chair of faculty development in the Department of Pediatrics and director of the Adolescent Medicine Training Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. She is also the program director of UAB’s Ryan White-funded clinic that provides medical and comprehensive supportive care to children, adolescents, and families living with HIV. Simpson leads multiple equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives related to teacher and intern recruitment, education, and technical assistance, both at UAB and nationally.
At Tulane, Simpson will work closely with Assistant Dean for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Bennetta Horne and Dr. Lee Hamm, Tulane senior vice president and dean of the School of Medicine. She will help the school recruit and promote a more diverse workforce of physicians and staff to provide better care to the region’s diverse patient population. She will also serve as director of the Department of Pediatrics’ Department of Pediatrics
“I am beyond excited to join Tulane School of Medicine as Chief Clinical Diversity Officer. This position allows me to continue my work and dedication to foster a more diverse and inclusive environment for those working in healthcare and to achieve more equitable health outcomes for the community,” said Simpson. I look forward to working with Dean Hamm and Assistant Dean Horne and being part of Tulane’s ongoing efforts to have a healthcare workforce that better reflects the diverse patient population of the Greater New Orleans area and enhances the staff’s ability to culturally responsive care delivery.”
Simpson will work with the school’s academic, university medical education and residency programs to enhance cultural competence care programs for educators, residents and students. She will also develop or improve training programs for all medical students, residents, and educators, including building patient-centered, effective communications around equality and diversity in medical environments.
“Dr. Tina Simpson is a proven leader in launching EDI initiatives that drive lasting change. She understands that equitable healthcare is for everyone and that creating a culture of inclusion delivers better outcomes for patients and interns across the board,” said Hamm. “As Chief Clinical Diversity Officer at Tulane, she will play a critical role in building of a bridge between the EDI initiatives underway at the School of Medicine and all of our clinical training sites in the region.”
Simpson has been an active part of equality, diversity, and inclusion efforts at UAB’s medical school for over 10 years. She has served on the admissions and selection committees and as a mentor for several pathway programs. The leadership of Dr. Simpson on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion was recognized with the 2020 UAB Department of Pediatrics Diversity and Inclusion Award for Senior Faculty and the 2021 UAB Presidential Diversity Champion Award.
Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Simpson is no stranger to New Orleans. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of New Orleans before moving to Birmingham to complete medical school, a pediatric residency, and adolescent medicine fellowship training at UAB.