A letter from the Program Director, GME Inclusive Excellence

Why emphasize inclusive excellence?

It is important to appreciate and value the core individuality of each person. Inclusive excellence seeks to recognize the unique strengths, experiences and perspectives each individual brings – and in doing so, creates an environment where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential.

To cultivate learning and working environments where individuals are encouraged to be authentic and contribute meaningfully, we must be mindful of the assumptions and behaviors that can become barriers. Creating inclusive spaces means learning to recognize when to speak up, step in and foster accountability for respectful collaboration.

Inclusive excellence in the workplace means reflecting the broad spectrum of humanity, including varied lived experiences, backgrounds, abilities, ages and perspectives. One of the goals is to address affinity bias – our unconscious tendency to favor those we perceive as similar to ourselves – and instead build cultures grounded in openness and respect for difference.

Inclusive access and opportunity refer to fair and intentional practices that ensure all individuals within our academic community can thrive. Inclusive excellence calls on us to respond thoughtfully – shaping our policies and systems to promote impartiality, access and meaningful engagement across all groups.

Belonging and inclusion are essential to a high-functioning campus culture. When individuals feel seen, valued and connected, they are more likely to contribute fully and collaboratively.

Two key levers to achieving this are climate and interpersonal connection. Climate refers to shared perceptions about what behaviors are expected, supported and rewarded in a given setting. An inclusive climate fosters psychological safety, learning, agility and collaboration.

Creating environments of belonging means addressing subtle but impactful challenge that can make individuals feel out of place or undervalued. Poor group dynamics can lead to disengagement and decreased performance, while positive climates foster resilience, innovation and commitment.

Through our Inclusive Excellence initiatives, we also deepen understanding of social drivers of health (SDOH) to support equitable healthcare delivery across our clinical learning environments. This ensures we are meeting the needs of all our patients and health plan members with empathy, professionalism and cultural responsiveness.

- Ali Chittalia, MD, MHA (He/Him)