Genao Receives ACP CT Chapter Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award
Last month, Inginia Genao, MD, FACP, was awarded the American College of Physicians (ACP) Connecticut Chapter Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Award for her work at Yale School of Medicine (YSM).
“I came to the United States at the age of 15, not knowing how to speak English,” said Genao, associate professor of medicine (general medicine); associate chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Graduate Medical Education Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
“So diversity, equity, and inclusion has just been a part of me. And now that I have dedicated time to do this work, it is really rewarding.”
The ACP Connecticut Chapter reached out to Genao for an interview about her diversity, equity, and inclusion work. They announced she was the winner of the DEI Award a few months later.
“It means a lot to receive this award,” said Genao. “Because it means the work has been recognized. For years, we were doing diversity, equity, and inclusion work without being recognized. So while I’m very flattered to have been given the award, just the fact that it exists is a huge step forward.”
As Associate Chair for Diversity and Inclusion in the Department of Internal Medicine and the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Genao works to improve diversity at all career stages. “From recruitment and retention,” says Genao, “to improving the climate and that sense of belonging that we need in order for us to come to Yale and stay at Yale.”
Genao specifically recruits residents and fellows, looking to them as future faculty and leaders within the department.
Looking forward, Genao says the Department of Internal Medicine has “come a long way already,” and is thankful for the work of leaders within YSM, like Gary V. Desir, MD, Paul B. Beeson Professor of Medicine; vice provost for Faculty Development and Diversity; and chair, Department of Internal Medicine; and Stephen Huot, MD, PhD, professor of medicine (nephrology); and associate dean for GME.
“Both Gary Desir and Steve Huot are very committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” says Genao. “To have leaders like them is just wonderful. And what I’m hoping is that working with the sections, other leaders in the department and across GME, that we bring in more faculty from diverse backgrounds, and that those faculty succeed at Yale and achieve their dreams.”
Genao stressed the need for diverse leaders in particular. “That’s now the piece that we need to work on,” she said. “Diversifying our leadership in the department.”
The Department of Internal Medicine at Yale is among the nation’s premier departments, bringing together an elite cadre of clinicians, investigators and educators in one of the world’s top medical schools. To learn more, visit Internal Medicine.