Fostering a Diverse and Equitable Campus

Regina D. Richards, PhD, MSW

This year, the CU Anschutz Medical Campus announced the appointment of Associate Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement, Regina D. Richards, PhD, MSW. Having served at CU Anschutz for more than two decades, Dr. Richards is committed to guiding the campus in the years ahead by promoting diversity, as well as enhancing our connection to the broader community. We sat down with Dr. Richards to learn about her vision for change, and how philanthropy can help her reach her goals.

What called you to do this critical work?

I do this work because it’s the right thing to do. I do this work because there are social determinants of health that influence differences in the delivery of, and access to, healthcare. They can work to the advantage of some and the detriment of others. I understand the structural systems that have been built, and I want to eliminate barriers to social justice and help achieve a sense of belonging for all.

What community efforts are you prioritizing?

There is such richness in our surrounding community. Our responsibility is to change our culture, climate and the landscape so that the community will want to engage with us. We can start by exploring opportunities to recruit from within the community. We can also engage our communities by conducting studies with diverse populations. Using a health equity lens, we can celebrate the science behind our differences, and develop evidence-based practices that will elevate not just some, but all.

How can philanthropy help?

Philanthropic resources can help us assist families that are underinsured or uninsured in accessing basic care and subspecialty care. Health is not just diagnoses and diseases — it is those additional services that we must provide, such as mental healthcare and preventative care. Philanthropy can also help us uplift the community we serve. As an academic medical campus in an ethnically diverse region, we are uniquely positioned to create strong ties with the communities and individuals around us that enrich our lives. It is our responsibility to reach beyond the bounds of our campus to bring others along.

Does private support impact minority health?

Private support can help our campus become a platform for minority health and health disparities research, made possible by working with generous benefactors to establish named centers for minority health. Named funds such as endowed chairs, professorships or lectureships are also opportunities to advance minority health and honor the legacies of underrepresented minorities in medicine.

How do scholarships support a diverse student body?

Scholarship support helps remove barriers for underrepresented minorities who look to access a world-class education at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Financial support for mentorship also allows students from diverse backgrounds to achieve their dreams of becoming tomorrow’s medical leaders. I would not be where I am today without the mentorship I received. Philanthropy can also enrich students’ educational experiences through funding for conferences, professional development and participation in other community-driven projects. Everyone has dollars to give, no matter the amount.

Dr. Richards and some of her mentees

Dr. Blackwood with young patient, Nancy, and her mother, Thelma

The Charles J. Blackwood, MD, Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund recognizes the life and legacy of 1947 alumnus Dr. Charles Blackwood, the first African American graduate of the CU School of Medicine. The scholarship was named in Dr. Blackwood’s memory with the support of fundraising efforts by Drs. Johnny Johnson, Warren Johnson, Regina Richards, Terri Richardson, Brenda Allen, and many other members of the Mile High Medical Society, a Denver-based organization of Black healthcare professionals. Dr. Blackwood’s legacy lives on through this scholarship, paving the way for generations of diverse healthcare leaders.

Ensuring a Diverse Healthcare Workforce

Sanaa Ahmad, recipient of The Anschutz Foundation Endowed Scholarship

Scholarships are making a difference for individuals like Sanaa Ahmad, a medical student in the Class of 2022 and recipient of The Anschutz Foundation Endowed Scholarship. Ahmad attributes a healthcare career exploration program in high school, which provided volunteer experience and mentorship, to sparking her interest in medicine. She said, “This scholarship makes me feel supported to make medicine a more inclusive and advocacy-oriented field – it reminds me that I have a team on my side.”

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