The Vanderbilt Department of Pediatrics announced the launch of a $1 million endowment for child health equity with the goal of reducing barriers and closing gaps to ensure all children have access to health care.
William Cooper, MD, MPH, interim chair of the department and associate dean for faculty affairs, announced the endowment at the annual state of department address on Sept. 10. The endowment’s initiative, planning and work are being led by two pediatrics faculty members: Adriana Bialostozky, MD, vice chair of diversity, equity and inclusion for the department, and Erin Boyd, MD, MSPH, who chairs the diversity, equity, and inclusion advisory committee for the department.
The $1 million endowment, established internally, will support the Department of Pediatrics efforts to weave health equity initiatives and strategies throughout clinical care, operations, research and training.
“We are thrilled to create this endowment with the intent to accelerate and bolster the incredible work we already are doing to promote health equity,” said Cooper, Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Pediatrics. “The goal is to create an environment that celebrates and recognizes unique differences in medicine and promotes child health equity in our clinical settings,” said Cooper.
Funds will be used to support guest lectures, pilot projects, mentorships and recruitment, among other efforts.
“We already have been doing a lot of work in the child health equity arena, but this endowment solidifies our commitment and our mission to really grow and sustain the program and work,” said Bialostozky, associate professor of Pediatrics. “At the end of the day, the most important part is our patients and families, and for us to be able to give the best care no matter a child’s circumstances while also developing and creating leaders who are passionate about the work in this space.”
The endowment will focus on six key components: educational programming; health equity projects; developing a health impact fund; supporting “the collective” — medical professionals from underrepresented groups; increased visiting medical scholars; and leadership development for women.
Potential projects or programming could include projects to address issues like flu vaccine disparities or food insecurity; educational events for faculty, staff and trainees; and mentoring for individuals underrepresented in medicine.
Still in the early phases of development, Bialostozky and Boyd will build committees around some of the endowment’s goals and projects, working with others across the department and academic setting.
“I believe the endowment will energize those in the department involved in this work and increase engagement in our efforts to promote health equity,” said Boyd, assistant professor of Pediatrics. “We have amazing faculty and trainees who have great ideas focused on increasing awareness of health disparities and how to address them. I’m really looking forward to seeing many of these initiatives come to fruition as a result of the support provided by the endowment. Investments like this are essential to success.”
