I Am Diversity

I AM DIVERSITY

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I AM DIVERSITY Northeast Ohio Medical University is a community based, public medical university consisting of Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Graduate Studies. The University embraces diversity, equity and inclusion and fosters a working and learning environment that celebrates differences and prepares students for patient-centered, team- and population-based care.

I am Diversity, 1st Edition Published by the Office of Public Relations and Marketing 4209 St. Rt. 44, P.O. Box 95 Rootstown, OH 44272-0095 Email: publicrelations@neomed.edu

Mission Northeast Ohio Medical University, through education, research and service, improves the health, economy and quality of life of the diverse communities of Northeast Ohio.

Vision To be the premier community-based interprofessional health sciences university in the United States.

Jay A. Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., President NEOMED Board of Trustees: Daisy L. Alford-Smith, Ph.D. E. Douglas Beach, Ph.D. Paul R. Bishop, J.D. Carisa E. Bohnak, Student Trustee Sharlene Ramos Chesnes James M. Guirguis, Student Trustee Joseph R. Halter Jr. J. David Heller, CPA, Chair Robert J. Klonk,Vice Chair Chander M. Kohli, M.D. Richard B. McQueen Photo essay: Roderick L. Ingram Sr. Contributors: Andre Burton; Diana Dillon; Elaine Guregian; Jared Slanina Design: Scott Rutan Photography: Lew Stamp No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher.

Copyright 2017 by Northeast Ohio Medical University Rootstown, Ohio 44272

President’s Statement on Diversity Northeast Ohio Medical University appreciates the rich diversity of our country and is dedicated to increasing the diversity of our students, faculty and staff to ensure that our community is inclusive to all. It is more important than ever that we look at the critical role health care providers play and the need to ensure that the health care workforce is representative of the patients being served.

The efforts of our Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and our Diversity Council, combined with the outreach of our Education for Service program, advance our focus on diversity initiatives that have a positive impact in the communities we serve.

Jay A. Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., President

We hope you enjoy I am Diversity. This photo essay is a reflection of our NEOMED community.

Our community is vast, going far beyond our colleges and departments. Our community extends into our partnerships, educational and health care institutions, and neighborhoods.

Our community represents people — students, faculty, staff, supporters and advocates, whose experiences become part of ours, whose dreams we share in, and whose barriers we help to tear down.

The NEOMED community is diverse, consisting of so many wonderfully unique individuals with qualities that we celebrate and appreciate. These individuals represent so many more of us, whose only hope is that others are willing to challenge their own assumptions.

We hope you enjoy this photo essay celebrating all layers of diversity, including countries of origin, languages, familial status, beliefs, jobs and hobbies, personalities and lifestyles. Throughout, you will see a reflection of the breadth and depth of our diversity with a focus on the inner and outer dimensions.

Internal dimensions include race, ethnicity and national origin; gender, sexual orientation, identity and/or expression; mental and physical abilities; and age — all aspects of diversity over which one has no control. These are often the first things one sees in other people, leading to many assumptions and base judgments.

External dimensions include aspects of our lives which one may have some control over, and which may change over time — religion; geographic location; political ideology and military service; personal interests, hobbies and recreational habits; educational background; appearance; parental and marital status; employment, income and socioeconomic status; and language and communication skills.

We are a collection of all of these dimensions. We are a collection of individuals who care about the health and wellness of our communities. We are NEOMED. We are Diversity.

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I AM DIVERSITY As soon as someone defines me, they miss a chance to get to know who I am. Don’t get me wrong, I am uniquely defined, but it’s not for one to say.

Don’t celebrate me for being in, or denigrate me for my skin or relegate me to my kin, just appreciate me for what’s in — side me.

Impressed by the him or her, open to the expressed of one’s own gender … for all people, I am a defender. Proud of my origin, experienced in the now and then, aged to perfection, l am but a reflection.

Of rife and ideology, of strife and points of view to the, of life in a democracy, so I’ve … a voice that’s free. I’m wealthy though needy I seem, I’m poor though rich I gleam, I am happy though I still dream.

My faith I do believe in, no haste to judge one’s creed when, science is their discipline. From deists to theists and everyone in between is, meant for us to COEXIST. I am abled with just one leg … Read rapidly, right to left instead … I am not always happy, often sad actually … so why care about inclusivity?

It’s got to be …

I am diversity.

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KIMBERLY KENNEDY

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

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NATIVE AMERICAN

BILINGUAL

(English/Vietnamese)

ANTHONY NGUYEN AMERICORPS MEMBER

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ò a h llo/c

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LESLY CHADDAN

THIRD YEAR PHARMACY STUDENT

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I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN

PUERTO RICO

KYLE BERTEA

SECOND YEAR MEDICINE STUDENT

ORPHAN FROM ROMANIA 09

REFUGEE DRAGANA ZIVAK

OF WAR (Serbian)

SECOND YEAR PHARMACY STUDENT

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GHANAIAN

(WEST AFRICAN)

SPEAKS 6 LANGUAGES

MOSES KUSORGBOR FIRST YEAR PHARMACY STUDENT

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MARGY SANDERS

JANEL M. KOELLNER

DIRECTOR OFFICE OF PALLIATIVE CARE

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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FACULTY SUPPORT

WE’RE BOTH HALF LEBANESE

BILINGUAL

FAYEZ SAFADI, Ph.D.

MIDDLE EASTERN,

DIRECTOR OF MUSCULOSKELETAL RESEARCH, PROFESSOR OF ANATOMY AND NEUROBIOLOGY

hello/marhabaan

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MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN

SEE LIFE THROUGH MY

ELAINE GUREGIAN

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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING

WITH SOLE CUSTODY

PAUL OREFICE

SINGLE PARENT

FIRST YEAR MEDICINE STUDENT

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JULIA LIVINGSTON

SECOND YEAR PHARMACY STUDENT

(Determined)

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MOM OF AMAZING KIDS

PATRIARCH OF MULTIRACIAL FAMILY RICH LEWIS VICE PRESIDENT FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

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JESSICA C. TOMAZIC

SECOND YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT

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MARRIED, VETERAN, WEST POINT GRAD

GARY D. NIEHAUS, Ph.D.

SCIENTIST/EDUCATOR/ ENTREPRENEUR PROFESSOR OF PHYSIOLOGY

WOODWORKER

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ANIMAL DOCTOR IN A MEDICAL SCHOOL STAN DANNEMILLER, D.V.M. VETERINARIAN, COMPARATIVE MEDICINE

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DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

BARBARA TOBIAS

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REPAIRS MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ON HAITI MISSIONS

DAVID KUHAJDA DATA SPECIALIST, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

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ICONOCLAST

NICHOLE E. AMMON, M.S.ED., PCC-S

MANAGER FOR INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE INITIATIVES

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MORGAN BLYTHE CRAIG

FLAWED & PROUD

SPECIALIST HEALTH PROFESSIONS AFFINITY COMMUNITY

AMY UNRUH

SECOND YEAR PHARMACY STUDENT

ETHNOMUSICOLOGIST

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SUSAN LABUDA SCHROP, Ph.D.

ASSISTANT DEAN OF CURRICULUM, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

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FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN. THIRD DEGREE BLACK BELT.

FORMER REGGAE MUSIC DJ

DANIEL BLAIN VP OF ADVANCEMENT

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I CAN TEACH YOU TO DANCE CONSTANTINE KIM

PRE-MED STUDENT (GRADUATED FROM CSU)

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I AM ARTISTIC

HANNAH JOHNSON SECOND YEAR

MEDICINE STUDENT

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I AM A

LISA WEISS, M.D. ASSOCIATE DEAN OF CURRICULUM FAMILY PHYSICIAN

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WEIGHT LIFTER

BRIA ODEN

THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON, CLASS OF 2018 AMERICORPS MEMBER

I STUDIED ABROAD IN JAPAN. I CAN SPEAK JAPANESE 31

RODERICK L. INGRAM SR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PR & MARKETING

INNER CITY PROJECTS TO MARKETING EXECUTIVE

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RURAL ROOTS TO WORLD TRAVELER AND DANCER

STACEY GARDNER-BUCKSHAW, Ph.D.

PROGRAM MANAGER HRSA PRIMARY CARE TRAINING AND ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

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ANDREW DICKSON AMERICORPS HPAC SPECIALIST

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FIRST GENERATION STUDENT

ANGELA BENNETT

DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

I HAVE

PTSD

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CRAIG EYNON DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS AND ANNUAL GIVING

APPALACHIAN

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ARCHER HEIDI TERRY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ENROLLMENT SERVICES

OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST

( AVID)

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BUSINESS OWNER

BRITTNEY OWENS

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SECOND YEAR PHARMACY STUDENT

JAY GERSHEN, D.D.S., Ph.D. PRESIDENT, NEOMED

SEPTUAGENARIAN

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TITLE IX IS L AW

OUR FL AME

is anti-inflammatory and we have zero tolerance for harassment and discrimination

Employment and academic discrimination against any individual on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status is prohibited.

Any employee, student or other person who wishes to report discrimination or harassment based on the aforementioned protected classes, or for issues related to sex discrimination, sexual assault or sexual harassment, should contact the University Title IX coordinator.