Thursday, July 29 at 12:15 PM

Addressing complex issues such as systemic oppression within a dynamic ecosystem such as health, healthcare, and health professions education requires multiple perspectives and input from varied stakeholders. Institutions must grapple with their history and participation in the historical injustices that perpetuate disparities and inequities, both in health professions education and health outcomes for populations of people. This round table will feature an interprofessional panel of experts in a facilitated dialogue, grappling with the oppressive systems of higher education and healthcare, and how to dismantle them and move toward a just community.

Paula Davis (Moderator)

Paula Headshot 2020.png Paula K. Davis, M.A., C.D.E*. is Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the University of Pittsburgh’s Schools of the Health Sciences. Davis assumed her current position after serving the School of Medicine as Assistant Dean with responsibility for Admissions, Financial Aid and Diversity Programs, and as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Diversity. Davis’s career has centered on higher education administration including diversity and inclusion, recruitment and admissions, financial aid, academic advising, alumni relations, and support services for diverse student populations.

A two-time graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (BA, English; MA, Communications), and recipient of the 2003 Chancellor’s Affirmative Action Award, Davis serves the community as vice president of the board of the FISA Foundation, an organization that funds initiatives supporting women and girls and people with disabilities, and chairs the board of M-PowerHouse, a nonprofit founded to support students of color in STEAM. She also served two terms as northeast region director for the National Association of Medical Minority Educators

The parent of a young adult on the autism spectrum, Davis is a staunch advocate for disability research and education.

*CDE - Certified Diversity Executive

Julius Kitutu

Julius Kitutu is an Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Alumni Relation (SAAR) and Chief Diversity Officer in the School of Nursing. Other than teaching, Dr. Kitutu oversees stude n t recruitment, application, admission and academic progression to graduation and after departure from the school as alumni. In addition, as the Chief Diversity Office, Dr. Kitutu plays a key role in leading and supporting the initiatives towards Diversity, Equity and Inclusion activities in the school and works closely with University’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Equity as well as the office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the schools of health sciences.

Prof. Mario Browne

Mario Torso Shot.jpg

Mario Browne is the inaugural Associate Dean for Equity, Engagement, and Justice, and Associate Professor in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh. He is the immediate past director of the Office of Health Sciences diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Schools of the Health Sciences. Mr. Browne is an Affiliate Faculty Member of the Center for Health Equity in the Graduate School of Public Health and a past Faculty Fellow in the Center for Urban Education in the School of Education. He is a Certified Diversity Practitioner and a Certified Health Education Specialist, and hold a BS in Biology and a BS in Medical Technology from Salem University and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health, and currently pursuing his Doctorate of Education in Administrative and Policy Studies at Pitt’s School of Education. Mr. Browne serves on various community and professional Boards and Committees including the Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, and is the Co-Chair of the Community Research Advisory Board (CRAB) at Pitt School of Public Health’s Center for Health Equity.

Bernard Rousseau

Bernard Rousseau, PhD, MMHC, CCC-SLP, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Fellow, is the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences' Associate Dean for Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement, and professor and chair of the Department of Communication Science and Disorders. As Associate Dean, Dr. Rousseau is responsible for developing and overseeing a comprehensive program that provides leadership, guidance, and support to promote increased recruitment, retention and advancement of underrepresented minority faculty, staff and students in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. This includes oversight over all the school's diversity, equity, and inclusion activities as they relate to faculty, trainees, students, and staff, and the development of strategic partnerships across the Schools of Health Sciences and surrounding communities in the Commonwealth. Dr. Rousseau's school-wide leadership responsibilities include a major role in strengthening engagement with the University of Pittsburgh Community Engagement Centers, SHRS Wellness Pavilion, and the Pittsburgh Public Schools. The goal of these community engagement partnerships is to increase access and the creation of pathways to the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences programs, research laboratories and world renowned clinical and research faculty.

Adriana Vieiera, DDS, DMD, MS, PhD

As a unique Latin woman serving as a full-time professor and the first assistant dean of diversity, inclusion and social justice at Pitt Dental Medicine, Dr. Modesto Vieira has a strong commitment to supporting and advancing the culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and cultural humility in the academic environment. She is also passionate about cultivating a diverse dental workforce to meet the needs of underrepresented minority communities, reducing inequities and disparities in oral health care and improving inclusive bias-free recruitment of trainees and faculty. In her 20 years of experience in leadership, teaching and research in academia, she has come to see the essential role of dental education in cultivating a dental workforce to meet the needs of underserved communities. While chair of the Pitt Dental Medicine Department of Pediatric Dentistry and through her service on the University of Pittsburgh Senate Equity, Inclusion and Anti-discrimination Advocacy Committee as well as other Diversity Committees and Task Forces, she has contributed with an innovative vision and a deep knowledge of critical issues such as anti-bias and inclusivity. Her understanding of the cultural challenges faced by underrepresented minorities, in addition to her continuous involvement with the mentoring of trainees, faculty and staff, gives her competence to use her training, skills and current position to ensure excellence and increase equity and diversity at Pitt Dental Medicine. Dr. Modesto Vieira strongly supports individuals, departments, groups and programs in identifying and implementing evidence-based inclusive practices and interventions which lead to equitable outcomes. She participates as a member of the Health Sciences Diversity Deans Committee and the Inclusion Network and links Pitt Dental Medicine programing and efforts to those of the Office of Health Sciences Diversity and the University’s Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Dr. Tiffany Gary-Webb

Dr. Tiffany Gary-Webb received a BS in Biology from the Pennsylvania State University and an MHS and PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is currently the Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion and a tenured Associate Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Behavioral and Community Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health. She is an accomplished researcher having authored or co-authored over 100 scientific publications including journal articles, book chapters, and editorials. Her current research agenda is the culmination of her 20 years of experience working to understand the social/environmental determinants of chronic disease and implementing interventions to improve prevention and control. Dr. Gary-Webb’s research program is divided into three defined areas: 1) the social determinants of diabetes and obesity, 2) interventions to improve diabetes outcomes for Minority populations, and 3) translation of research findings to practice and real-world evaluation. She’s held leadership positions in several national organizations including the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the Council on Black Health (CBH), and is currently the Chair of the Epidemiology Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA). She is now expanding her national and international reach to work on larger structural issues that will affect the nation’s progress toward understanding and eliminating health disparities.