by Nancy Humphrey
André Churchwell, MD, Chief Diversity Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center and senior associate dean for Diversity Affairs for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, has been named to the Roundtable on Black Men and Black Women in Science, Engineering and Medicine.
Churchwell, who is also interim vice chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer for Vanderbilt University, was nominated as one of 30 members of the initiative by the leadership of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. The roundtable was established to examine the range of barriers facing black men and black women in pursuit of careers in science, engineering and medicine, with the goal of proposing actionable solutions that remove those barriers and create the type of systemic change necessary for black men and black women to thrive in those fields.
“I am honored and excited to be asked to be part of such an important roundtable,” Churchwell said. “The problem of black men and women progressing from high school to careers in science, medicine and engineering is a national crisis. For America to remain the world leader in science and innovation we need all of our students to have an opportunity to fulfill their academic potential.
“Who knows when the next Dr. E. E. Just (pioneering African American biologist, academic and science writer) or Dr. Vivian Pinn (American physician, scientist, and pathologist known for her advocacy of women’s health issues and concerns) will come through our school systems? This is the most important national committee that I have had the chance to serve on. I look forward to the challenge.”
Churchwell has been widely recognized throughout his career for his leadership and contributions to advancing inclusion in the medical field, both at Vanderbilt and beyond.
He serves on numerous boards and is active in several national organizations. From 2013 to 2015, he served on the Biomedical Engineering Society Diversity Committee, where he and his colleagues focused on work force diversity and the importance of recruiting a diverse class to enhance learning.
In 2012, he was elected to serve as the Southern representative for the Group on Diversity and Inclusion for the Association of American Medical Colleges. As a member of the group, he was involved in creating a best practice manual for all diversity deans in medical schools to use as they build their programs.
