Dear NEOMED Community:
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Northeast Ohio Medical University is proud to announce its support and recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is traditionally celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. For more than 30 years, the month-long festival has honored Hispanic and Latinx populations with cultural, educational and entertainment events. National Hispanic Heritage Month also recognizes the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success.
NEOMED’s early kick-off
At NEOMED, we actually kicked off the celebration early ― on Sept. 9 ― with the virtual event, “Diagnosing the USA’s Demography: El vigor de los Hispanos en Estados Unidos.” Sponsored by the Latino Medical Student Association in conjunction with the College of Medicine, the program considered the changing demography of the U.S. as highlighted in the recent Census and its impact on the health care professions for both practitioners and their patients. The presentation and panel offered a blend of data analytics and real-life experiences.
Aligning with the start of NEOMED’s Fall Semester, National Hispanic Heritage Month serves as an excellent time to acknowledge the many contributions Hispanic Americans have had on the health professions as well as to highlight the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts that make up the fabric of our University’s strategic plan. This year’s celebration is truly special, as we proudly announce the matriculation of a record number of Latinx students who are part of the 48 underrepresented minority students enrolled in our College of Medicine’s first-year class.
In recognition of this historic occasion, we are extending our celebration beyond the national observance ― through Nov. 2 ― to coincide with the holiday Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead).
The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture, the holiday is celebrated each year from Oct. 31 through Nov. 2.
Our extended celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month provides an important opportunity to enhance and foster our commitment to recognizing the value that our similarities and differences bring to our University and surrounding communities.
Events offering a chance to learn, listen and love
Check out Hispanic Heritage Month weekly facts in The Pulse and on NEOMED video monitors throughout the University. And join in the fun. With many events scheduled ―from the Latin America Travel Fair, Wednesday, Oct. 6. to the El Día de Los Muertos Celebration, Wednesday, Nov. 2 ― there’s so much to learn and do for everyone.
NEOMED’s strong commitment to creating an atmosphere that promotes and celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion not only enriches the cultural understanding of the entire University community, but also serves as a foundation for our sustainability to create transformational leaders.
Regards,
Andre Burton, J.D.
Vice President for Human Resources and Diversity
Office of the President