About Us
Created in 2021, the Department of Medicine’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Office (DEIAO) supports and implements the Department’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility goals and plans.
DEIAO is currently led by Shahnaz Sultan, MD, MHSc, Vice Chair, Cuong Pham, MD, Associate Vice Chair, and departmental staff.
DEI Leads work closely with the Department’s DEIAO to advance workplace diversity, education, and magnify ongoing dialogues on diversity issues for departmental faculty, staff, and learners.
Leadership
Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Shahnaz Sultan, MD, MHSc is the Department's inaugural Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Sultan is an accomplished clinician, researcher, and educator in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (GI) and previously served as the Program Director of the GI Fellowship Program for five years prior to joining the DEI Office. She brings to this role a breadth of leadership experience, accomplishment in health disparities research, an established record of increasing learner diversity, and a passion and vision for DEI work. Dr. Sultan leads and oversees the development of DEI efforts across the Department's education, clinical, research, and service missions for faculty, staff, and learners. Her initial priorities as Vice Chair of DEI has been focused on assessing the Department's ongoing DEI activities and creating strategies, policies, and best practices that will enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in all mission areas.
Administrative Email: dom-dei@umn.edu
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education Director
Adriana Dhawan, MD, FAAP, CTropMed is an Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Hospitalist and inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education Director for the Internal Medicine Program. A first-generation American with Slovenian and East Indian heritage who grew up in New Mexico, her first passion for global health brought her to the University of Minnesota for residency. In addition to her University clinical role, she spends time working in partnership with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the Indian Health Services and as Global Medicine Faculty. Her academic interests include creating an inclusive clinical learning environment and development of educational curricula spanning global medicine, health equity, and advocacy.