Vinson named assistant dean for Diversity at VUSM
Kimberly Vinson, M.D., assistant professor of Otolaryngology, has been named assistant dean for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s newly reorganized Office for Diversity.
Kimberly Vinson, M.D.
Vinson, a 2003 VUSM graduate and a faculty member on the surgical service, will focus on diversity among medical students and will work on curriculum to teach about health disparities.
Andre’ Churchwell, M.D., associate dean for Diversity, said Vinson has a particular professional view and set of influences that differ from and complement his own.
He says Vinson will provide the Office of Diversity more reach and broader connections.
Vinson said the competition to attract top minority students is getting tougher all the time. VUSM invited 67 underrepresented minority students to attend last year after interviewing 145.
Nineteen students chose to come to Vanderbilt, and Vinson says she is anxious to help Churchwell attract even more in the coming years.
Both Vinson and Churchwell agree one challenge is the perception some have of Nashville as primarily a country music mecca, and Vanderbilt as steeped in tradition.
They plan to invite top students to experience how cosmopolitan Nashville is, and to spread the word that Vanderbilt is already tied for sixth by the Student National Medical Association’s diversity rankings and is working toward improving that ranking.