Perspectives on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Duke Eye Center is thrilled to announce that Duke PGY-3 resident, Richard Morgan, MD, PhD, has been accepted into the prestigious American Society of Retina Specialists’ (ASRS) Underrepresented in Retina Mentorship Program. This groundbreaking initiative is designed to cultivate diversity within the field by providing invaluable mentorship opportunities to residents from underrepresented backgrounds. Through this program, mentees like Dr.

Cynthia Toth, MD shared stories from her career as a female surgeon in ophthalmology during the latest Mend the Gap podcast by Healio. Laura Enyedi, MD co-hosted the podcast.

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Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Over the last several days we have been shocked, saddened, and somewhat paralyzed with a sense of helplessness as we have watched the violence unfold and escalate in Israel and Gaza. Many of us are experiencing a complex set of emotions including fear, anxiety, and anger. For the faculty, trainees, and staff who have loved ones or ties to the region, our thoughts are with you, we support you, and raise our voices for peace along your side.

A variety of terms are used to describe people who come from, or have family roots coming from, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the United States, two terms are most frequently used, sometimes interchangeably: Hispanic, and some variation of Latino, Latina, or Latinx.

Duke Eye Center had the honor of hosting the Annual Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Lecture on July 18, featuring guest speaker, Tamara Fountain, MD, 125th President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Fountain's lecture, "Headwinds and Headway - Striving for Best Outcomes in All Our Patients" can be viewed at the link below.

Duke Eye Center had the privilege of hosting scholars from the BOOST program earlier this month.  The scholars spent time with members of our faculty and staff to learn about ophthalmology, the eye and different career paths available in the field. 

The Duke Office of Physician Scientist Development (OPSD) PRIME Summer Academy provides medical students, who have limited research experience, hands-on laboratory training at the Duke University School of Medicine.  

More than half of middle school students who express an interest in STEM will lose interest by their high school graduation. The Duke School of Medicine BOOST program is working to combat this by inspiring young students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in STEM via fun hands-on learning experience and mentorship. When the opportunity arose for the Eye Center to participate in the BOOST program and share our passion for vision with local Durham students, we were thrilled.

On June 14, 2022 students of the Duke Student National Medical Association (SNMA) joined faculty and trainees from Duke Eye Center to host an ophthalmology wet lab for Duke’s Black medical students.

Kevin Thomas, MD, had little interest in cardiology when he first entered medical school, but it is difficult now to separate his journey toward becoming a cardiologist from his current work advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).