Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

MEDiversity Week

The mission of MEDiversity Week is to highlight the equity, diversity, and inclusion work within University of Utah Health; while addressing health care disparities, offering solutions for the training of our current and future providers, and hosting discussions on how to continually advocate for equity and inclusion in our daily personal and professional lives. All are welcome to get involved and participate!

Care-4-All Ages

October 23 - 27, 2023

MEDiversity Week returns with an emphasis on anti-ageism in health care and the recent designation of U of U Health as an Age-Friendly Health System. The size of the US population that is +65 years of age is expected to double by 2050, prompting greater attention to systems so they meet the growing need. One recent study found that ageism in health care resulted in more than 17 million additional health condition cases and put its cost at $63 billion annually, a staggering sum that results from overmedication, misaligned treatment plans, and inequitable health outcomes. The theme for this year’s MEDiversity Week, “Care-4-All Ages,” seeks to draw attention to the importance of designing and delivering care that meets the needs of every person, regardless of age.

Interested in additional anti-ageism events outside of MEDiversity Week? Check out this anti-ageism event list.

Oct
23

Aging Through an Intersectional Lens

Moot Courtroom (Law 6613) + Livestream

12:00 PM

Oct
24

Keynote Address: Sharon A. Brangman, MD

Virtual

12:00 PM

Oct
24

Film Screening & Discussion: "Dick Johnson is Dead"

Gardner Commons 1900

5:30 PM

Oct
25

AFU @ the U: What does the Age-Friendly University designation mean for you?

Virtual

9:00 AM

Oct
25

Reframing the Conversation: Ensuring High-Quality Patient Care at Every Age

Hinckley Caucus Room (GC 2018) + Livestream

12:00 PM

Oct
26

MEDiversity Week Town Hall

Virtual

12:00 PM

Oct
27

WiHMS Webinar: Let's Talk About Menopause!

Virtual

9:00 AM

four dots and icons representing the 4Ms framework

The 4Ms Framework

"Care-4-All Ages" spotlights the 4Ms framework, which gives health care leaders and workers a set of principles that can guide anti-ageism efforts. Originally developed by the John A. Hartford Foundation, these principles include:

What Matters
Know and align care with each older adult's specific health outcome goals and care preferences including, but not limited to, end-of-life care, and across settings of care
Medication
If medication is necessary, use Age-Friendly medication that does not interfere with What Matters to the older adult, Mobility, or Mentation across settings of care
Mentation
Prevent, identify, treat, and manage dementia, depression, and delirium across settings of care.
Mobility
Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do What Matters

2022

Securing Health Equity for All

“Securing Health Equity for All” explored how University of Utah Health can develop policies, practices, and programs that move us closer to the goal of eliminating health disparities. Events and discussions focused on attaining equitable health outcomes for all patients, with an emphasis on those from historically marginalized populations, and took a broad approach toward the goal of dismantling bias in order to secure health equity for all.

2021

Intersectionality in Health Education & Care

As we discussed in 2020, we celebrate individuals—the “me” part of MEDiversity. The “diversity” part of the name means that we recognize that each of us is unique, and regardless of race/ethnicity/gender etc., we all add to the diverse tapestry of our campus. For 2021, we recognized the multiple identities that exist simultaneously within all of us. We emphasize that recognition of our individual intersectional identities will help us understand each other, but more importantly, it will help us serve our patients.

Recordings from MEDiversity Week 2021, can be visited through this link.

2020

Disparities & Equity in Healthcare

For the inaugural MEDiversity Week, our participants explored the barriers that exist and persist for various communities to receive consistent, culturally sensitive, and high-quality care in the United States. Events provided insight into centering equity, inclusion, and anti-racism within programs and initiatives while navigating national trends and local issues and ensuring progress towards addressing our institutional racism.

If you missed any of these events, there are recordings we have made available to watch and revisit the incredible work being done on our campus and in our communities.

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion