AAMC leader touts diversity’s ‘escalator to opportunity’ at MLK event

By Angela Patterson

Dr. Marc Nivet lives one mile from the invisible line that divides Washington, D.C., from Arlington, Virginia, but that short distance makes a world of difference in educational quality for his 11-year-old son.

“If I sent him to D.C. (public schools), he'd have a staircase to opportunity,” Dr. Nivet said. “But because he's in Virginia, in a premier public school, he has an escalator to opportunity. The role of academic medicine is not just to be preeminent in patient care, but also to create more escalators to opportunity.”

In his keynote address to a standing-room-only crowd at the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration on Jan. 21, Dr. Nivet said the evolution of diversity for academic medicine requires moving beyond traditional notions of recruitment and retention to a full cultural shift. Dr. Nivet, who serves as Chief Diversity Officer for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), terms this progression “Diversity 3.0” where diversity moves from a concept on the periphery to a driving value integrated into the fabric of the institution.

“Diversity is not parallel to excellence, but core to it – we can’t be excellent unless we leverage difference,” Dr. Nivet said. “It’s not enough to simply count people. We have to ask ourselves ‘Do people count?’ ”

Achieving this goal, he said, means going beyond providing quality health care to considering the broader narrative of health. In a world with shifting demographics, workforce shortages and millions of underrepresented minorities joining the ranks of the insured, it’s more crucial than ever for medical institutions to produce professionals who are prepared to handle 21st century challenges, he said.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration drew an overflow crowd.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration drew an overflow crowd.

“A majority of the newly insured are underrepresented minorities, often disenfranchised, and have pent-up health care demands,” Dr. Nivet said. “Are we prepared to take care of that population? Are we adequately preparing the workforce to take care of that population?”

But to serve those populations, he added, academic medicine has to create environments where people feel supported.

“Our environments often have a level of toxicity,” Dr. Nivet said. “And rather than lower those levels, we put gas masks on our people. Our institutions have to recognize that gas masks aren’t enough. We have to lower toxicity so people can thrive.”

Dr. Nivet’s points are based on extensive experience in educational, diversity, and equality leadership. At the AAMC, he provides strategic vision for all AAMC diversity and inclusion activities. Dr. Nivet and his staff are responsible for analyzing policy and regulatory activities related to diversity and inclusion, assisting medical schools and teaching hospitals with their diversity goals. Dr. Nivet previously served as Chief Operating Officer at the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations, and as Special Assistant to the Senior Vice President of Health at New York University. Dr. Nivet also was President of the National Association of Medical Minority Educators, Inc., and adjunct Professor in the School of Education, Health, and Human Services of Hofstra University.

Dr. Nivet holds a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and a Master of Science degree in higher education and student development from Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus.

In fostering the shift to Diversity 3.0, he said there’s a role for everyone to play, especially in mentoring people of color aspiring to enter health care.

“There aren’t enough (physicians of color) to do one-on-one mentoring,” Dr. Nivet said. “This is a job for all of us.”

In addition to Dr. Nivet’s speech, Dr. Dale Okorodudu, a Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellow and Founder of Diverse Medicine, Inc., debuted Black Men in White Coats, a video series created in conjunction with UT Southwestern; and Dr. Alecia Nero, Assistant Professor in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, was recognized for receiving the Inspiring Women in STEM award from national organization INSIGHT Into Diversity. Musical performances were offered by the Barack Obama Leadership Academy’s boys choir and vocalist Bobbie Jackson.

The Barack Obama Leadership Academy choir performs
The Barack Obama Leadership Academy choir performs.

The MLK Commemorative Celebration is sponsored by the Office of the President and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and Equal Opportunity.

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