Fostering a Culture Where Differences Are Valued
The UW School of Medicine Office of Research and Graduate Education (RGE) is committed to assuring that the climate of the biomedical research community is welcoming and respectful.
To accomplish this, we created programs to help us achieve our shared goals of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
These programs focus on transforming our climate to be truly supportive of community members from diverse backgrounds.
Biomedical Research Affinity Groups
The UW School of Medicine is proud to support the Biomedical Research Affinity Groups! These groups were formed by graduate students and postdocs in an effort to create community, provide brave spaces, and foster interactions between people with shared identities and experiences. The activities, initiatives, and events are determined by the student members and student facilitators. These groups are open to all graduate students and postdocs in the UW School of Medicine.
UW Medicine Bias Reporting Tool
UW Medicine is an organization that embraces diversity, advances equity, and fosters inclusion and collaboration. We are a community that expects support and respect at all levels. We realize there are times when individuals at all levels in our system engage in biased behaviors which adversely impact the learning, teaching, working or healing experiences of others.
The Bias Reporting Tool is for sharing incidents of bias including racism, sexism, ableism, discrimination of any form or other behaviors that do not reflect the prioritization of inclusion and equity expected in all areas of our community.
We are committed to responding to these events and continuing to improve our climate. Thank you for taking the time to tell us what happened.
We understand sharing concerns can be difficult and we welcome anonymous reports. If you choose to report anonymously, please know our ability for follow-up will be limited. We encourage you to provide your contact information so we can reach out to you, hear more about what happened, hear how it impacted you, and discuss resources.
Disability Resources
Accessibility at the UW, This is the University of Washington’s centralized accessibility website, the “digital front door” to accessibility. This website gathers information from across the University to provide students, faculty, staff, visitors, patients, and the community with a single-entry point for relevant information about access to UW programs, services, and activities.
ASUW Office of Inclusive Design, The Office of Inclusive Design (OID) is an ASUW office dedicated to making the University of Washington a more inclusive and accessible place for all students. We provide event consultation services, educational resources, and funding to ASUW Entities and RSOs who are looking to make their events and office practices more inclusive.
Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT), The DO-IT Center is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through technology and education.
Disability Accommodation Policy, The University’s disability accommodation process is intended to be interactive and collaborative, relying on open communication and active participation between employees and the University.
Disability Accommodation Process: A Manager’s Role, Whether you supervise faculty, staff or student employees, UW managers play an instrumental role in the accommodation process.
Disability and Deaf Cultural Center, The Disability and Deaf Cultural Center — also known as the D Center — is a physical and virtual community gathering space for UW students, staff, and faculty who identify as Disabled, D/deaf, or allies.
Disability Resources for Students (DRS), Disability Resources for Students (DRS) is dedicated to ensuring access and inclusion for all students with disabilities on the Seattle campus enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, professional, Evening Degree and Access programs. DRS serves 5,000+ students with either temporary or permanent physical, health, learning, sensory or psychological disabilities. Students partner with our office to establish services and accommodations for their access and inclusion on campus.
Disability Services Office (DSO), DSO’s mission is to provide leadership to the University community in achieving employment and educational access for individuals with disabilities. They provide services and accommodations to faculty, staff, and visiting members of the public with disabilities, accommodation advice and resources for departments, assistive equipment, interpreters, CART captioning, and more.
Disability Staff and Faculty Association, The UW Disability Staff and Faculty Association (DSFA) supports our vibrant community for faculty and staff who identify as disabled, D/deaf, blind/low vision, chronically ill, Mad, neurodivergent, or experiencing mental health concerns. Allies of the disability community are also welcome. Join us in building a supportive environment that honors disability as an important part of diversity.
Office of the ADA Coordinator, In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and relevant local, state, and federal law, the University provides individuals with disabilities equal access to programs, services and/or activities. Report access barriers, learn more about the ADA, and more on this website.
Resources for Persons with Disabilities, A site with resources including the DSO website, inclusive event checklists, and more.
Diversity Resources
Anti-Racism Resources
From UW Student Well-Being
Anti-Racism Resources for the AAPI Community
Anti-Racism Resources for Black Individuals and Communities
Anti-Racism Resources for Non-Black Individuals and Communities of Color
Anti-Racism Resources for White Individuals and Communities
Race & Equity at UW Resources, This list can help you gain a deeper understanding of historical and present-day manifestations of racism in the United States.
Cultural Centers at UW
Intellectual House (wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ), provides a multi-service learning and gathering space for American Indian and Alaska Native students, faculty and staff, as well as others from various cultures and communities to come together in a welcoming environment to share knowledge.
Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center, The Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center values diversity, equity, and inclusion of all communities, including underrepresented and first-generation students of color.
LGBTQIA Resources
Gender Affirming Care at UW, Gender-affirming care reflects the commitment of campus health providers to respect, affirm, and support your lived experience of your gender
Gender Neutral Restrooms at UW, This list of gender-neutral restrooms on the University of Washington Seattle campus is provided in collaboration with the UW Labor Relations department.
Q Center, the Q Center has proudly served LGBTQ+ students, staff, and faculty for almost 20 years. They exist to foster a brave, affirming, and inclusive community where everyone’s gender and sexual identities are celebrated.
Title IX Reporting, The University of Washington is committed to providing ways for all community members to report discrimination, harassment, and violence based on sex, gender, pregnancy status, and LGBTQ+ identity.
For Allies
You Have UW Allies!
The UW Allies program serves graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in basic science labs at UW. Allies are faculty volunteers who provide trainees with support during conflict with mentors and lab mates, assistance in navigating institutional barriers to success, and connection with institutional and community services. Allies stand in solidarity with trainees, so they don’t have to face challenges alone.
Meet Andrés Barría
Physiology and Biophysics professor Andrés Barría has been named the first Assistant Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Research and Graduate Education for the School of Medicine. Andrés has worked to push social justice initiatives since he came to the UW in 2005. He was a member of the UW Faculty Council on Race, Equity, and Justice and was a co-chair and founder of the School of Medicine’s Biomedical Research EDIT committees. He also founded P.Bio’s EDI committee.
His work as Assistant Dean will develop and support relationships between the Office of Health Care Equity (OHCE) and biomedical research departments, as well as working on initiatives with impacts to faculty recruitment, training programs, and other collaborative projects across the school.