The Dept. of Psychiatry's Center for Diversity focuses on intercultural education, mental health disparities research, and collaborations throughout the hospital and community.
Chester Pierce, MD
Professor Emeritus: Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Professor Emeritus: Education, Harvard University
August, 2012
How much awareness of diversity was there when you first came to MGH?
The concept certainly wasn’t popular like it is now, but [when I arrived] it was the tail end of the civil rights movement, so there was lots of action to get more people of different backgrounds and to try to make sure there was fairness and more patient participation as part of the culture of the times. …The fervor was countrywide, but the city [of Boston] had been pretty open for much of its long history.
Boston lost a lot of its reputation during [the 1970s and 1980s] because of highly publicized negative events like the busing [crisis], and it’s never regained the position it had during the 1940s as a bastion of liberality.
The Center for Diversity grew out of a committee, convened in 1998 by Chief of Psychiatry, Dr. Ned Cassem, in response to then MGH President, Dr. James Mongan’s hospital wide initiative to identify problems and develop a diversity plan for the Department of Psychiatry. Over the years, the Committee has been fortunate to have the participation of dedicated departmental staff and trainees, enabling its expanded scope as a Center.
This website provides important information about diversity initiatives within our Department, as well as our collaborations across the Hospital and Harvard Medical School. For more information, please email us at psychdiversity@partners.org
Learn about the history of our Diversity initiatives, as well as a new perspective on Cultural Sensitivity in these multimedia presentations.
Mass General named to Top 10 diverse
hospitals list for 4th consecutive year
DiversityInc. has named MGH to its list of Top 10 Hospitals for Diversity. The magazine praised the hospital for its leadership’s involvement in ensuring a diverse workforce.
Dr. Margarita Alegria
Receives 2012 Bonner Award
Her presentation focused on "Re-engineering Mental Health Services for a Changing America." Learn more.
Events and News
-- Highlights of our inaugural ceremonies
-- Spring Lecture Series
-- Bonner Award
-- Photos of Diversity Events
Our commitment to diversity 
Massachusetts General Hospital provides a welcoming and supportive environment for employees of all ethnic backgrounds, cultures, ages, lifestyles and physical abilities.
Visit the Paul S. Russell, MD Museum
Explore the evolution of health care and medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Visit the Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation.
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