1. BioMedical Engineering IDEA Workshop Challenges and Opportunities for Diversity September 27, 2007 Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood CA Patrice O. Yarbough, PhD Interim Executive Director, UTMB Strategic Research Collaborations Adjunct Faculty, UTMB Division of Infectious Diseases Chair, Core Committee for Advancement of Women Faculty/ Diversity Council Secretary, NABB National Association of Blacks in BIO

2. Introductory Remarks Education is closely linked to socioeconomic success. The U.S. workforce in the sciences, math, and technology is facing much competition. More ”baby boomers” are expected to retire over the next few years, with considerably less students in the pipeline to replace them. Despite many efforts, ethnic minorities are mostly under- represented in the sciences. Although the value of diversity is widely accepted, there has been slow progress in producing a diverse group of biomedical researchers.

3. Perspectives Researcher/ Administrator –Creativity: think “out the box” –New solutions to old problems –New solutions to new problems Faculty –Faculty development and mentoring Targets: junior faculty, women, minorities –Recruitment and retention –Accountability, redefine search committees Leader in Diversity Initiatives (JGH, NABB) –Create environment to encourage students –Educate, inspire, prepare for future success

4. NABB: Nat’l Assoc. for Blacks in BIO Non-profit organization –Members include scientists, biomedical engineers, physicians, business development professionals, lawyers, tech transfer specialist, marketing and sales professionals and entrepreneurs –Executive Committee Networking venues –Board of Directors Manage organization affairs and provide direction –National Advisory Council Professionals in the workplace that promote NABB

5. NABB cont’d Mission –Address the nation’s effort to remain competitive in the diverse market global place –Address the shortage of minority professionals in research and healthcare related businesses. Product/Deliverable –Build programs of access for minority professionals –Identify top tier highly skilled professionals –Bridge academia and private industry with communities of color –Address health care disparities –Pipeline development

6. NABB: Why Needed? Few minorities in the pipeline –NABB can help you find them Link students to professionals –NABB can serve as mentors (MRTF) Establish networking between disciplines –NABB can link minorities in diverse professions around common goal to achieve better healthcare for all Crisis: Few students in the labs –NABB can mobilize all the stakeholders and key opinion leaders –To build the pipeline requires investment from academic, private industry, and government

7. Diversity Many aspects. Culmination of life experience: –Age, gender, race, ethnicity, physical abilities –Work experience, language, education, income, where you live –Communication style Not a law, it is a choice! Why do it? –Makes good business sense –Diversity in the classroom, enables more diverse trained professionals –More diverse professionals deliver more ideas and better designs

8. Diversity cont’d Instrument of change –Dismantle old stereotypes New leadership –Arm students with information and approaches Learn about past successes –Develop and cultivate inviting environment Teamwork, open access, inclusion –Prepare ‘future’ leaders Commit and execute, establish accountability

9. Closing Remarks Current –What works? Why? –What’s broken? How to fix it? New Approaches –Rubrics –Positive indicators Accountability –Monitor programs –Short term success –Long term success –Leadership