The formation of a Department of Psychiatry Diversity Committee was inspired by the creation of a hospital-wide Diversity Committee.
There have been a number of important milestones since the Committee's formation:
1997: Former Mass General President Dr. James Mongon creates a hospital-wide Diversity Committee
1998: Former Psychiatry Department Chair Dr. Ned Cassem responds to Dr. Mongan's initiative and convenes the Psychiatry Diversity Committee
2012: The Department of Psychiatry’s Diversity Committee became the Department of Psychiatry Center for Diversity
The Department of Psychiatry was the first, and for many years the only, department at Mass General to create a formal committee dedicated to diversity issues. Over the last 15 years, the Department of Psychiatry diversity initiatives have been a model for others within the hospital and community.
The transition to a Center for Diversity—led by founding members Dennis Norman, EdD, ABPP; Ranna Parekh, MD, MPH; Jerry Rosenbaum, MD; Estee Sharon, PsyD; Barb Siftar; Chet Pierce, MD; Deb Washington, RN, MSN; and Albert Yeung, MD—expanded on the previous mission of the Committee to include intercultural education, mental health disparities research and wider collaborations in the hospital and community. The Center was awarded the “Partners in Excellence Team Award” in December 2011 for this work.
Former leaders of the Diversity Committee have included David Henderson, MD (1998-2002), Jerry Rosenbaum, MD (2002), Gregory Fricchione, MD (2002-2007) and Ranna Parekh, MD, MPH (2007-2015), who oversaw the transition from Committee to Center. Nhi-Ha Trinh, MD, has served as Director of the Center for Diversity since 2015.
Members of the Psychiatry Center for Diversity. Front row (l to r): Ricardo Vela, MD; Nhi-Ha Trinh, MD, MPH; Katia Canenguez, PhD, EdM; Lisa DuBreuil, LICSW; 2019 Bonner Award Recipient Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD; Carol Bonner, MSW, MBA, EdD; Dale Murphy; Michele Morris. Back row (l to r): Derri Shtasel, MD, MPH; Aisha Usmani, PhD; Anne Emmerich, MD; Sheila O’Keefe, EdD, Laurie Ball, MM; Stan Saulny; and Paul Murphy.
Department of Psychiatry
For 80 years, Mass General's Psychiatry Department has provided the highest quality patient care through pioneering research.
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Over 60 specialty psychiatry clinical and research programs
We provide care for patients of any age throughout the lifespan.
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As the MGH prepares to recognize Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month this May, a newly formed group of staff are working to plan events that celebrate diversity and empower the AAPI community.
This year’s Black History Month theme is Black Health and Wellness, which gives us the opportunity to reflect on racial disparities in health outcomes and access to care. The Department of Surgery at Mass General focuses on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion through a broad committed effort.