MaPS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

The MaPS DEI committee was established in the fall of 2020 with the goal of promoting diversity, equity and inclusion through faculty and student mentoring, faculty recruiting, and graduate admissions. The committee members include: Sam Behar, MD, PhD, professor; Rachel Gerstein, PhD, associate professor; Javier Irazoqui, PhD, associate professor; Tim Kowalik, PhD, professor; Christina Baer, PhD, assistant professor; and Annette Bohigian, academic administrator. 

Equity and inclusion are essential to the mission of our department and institution. Our initial efforts specifically focused on recruitment of a diverse faculty. We recognize the importance of defining and filling faculty positions with scientist-educators that exhibit excellence in all of our core values, including our commitment to equity and inclusion; implementation of a strategic vision for increasing recruitment and retention of diverse faculty is an institutional priority articulated in the UMass Chan IMPACT 2025 Strategic Plan. We have worked closely with Milagros Rosal, PhD, professor of population & quantitative health sciences and the first UMass Chan vice provost for health equity in her mission to advance the Medical School’s diversity goals within the faculty ranks. 

You can contact Dr. Gerstein for further information at rachel.gerstein@umassmed.edu.