Hoffman Inducted Into Annual Institute For Emerging Diversity Leadership

Pitt Pediatrics congratulates Beth Hoffman, PhD, MPH, for being named one of the third annual inductees to the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s (SBM) Monica Baskin Diversity Institute for Emerging Leaders. Hoffman is a postdoctoral researcher with Pitt’s School of Public Health and is a leadership member of the Department of Pediatrics’ CHAMP community engagement group. 

SBM prioritizes the development of early-career scientists and clinicians and the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Monica Baskin Diversity Institute for Emerging Leaders was designed to support and celebrate those early-career clinicians and scientists who come from diverse backgrounds or work with underrepresented populations in an effort to develop equitable and thoughtful leaders by fostering a deep understanding of the principles of diversity and inclusion. The Institute is a one-year long endeavor that begins with a day-long in-person workshop designed to identify “blind spots” related to diversity and inclusion, respond to related challenges, and implement and advocate for appropriate changes in practice. 

Hoffman, who cited both her work with CHAMP and other endeavors in the DEI space in her application to the Institute, has expressed, “I am really honored to be a part of this Institute and believe it will give me the support and training to better contribute to pipeline development and mentorship programs such as CHAMP.” 

As institutions such as UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine continue to work towards developing diverse, equitable, and inclusive professional and clinical spaces, as well as a positive impact on the surrounding Pittsburgh community, organizations such as SBM and the Baskin Institute have become increasingly important for developing young scientists and clinicians into DEI leaders. 

“Concretely, I aim to use my participation in this Institute as a way to increase collaboration between CHAMP and the School of Public Health,” Hoffman states. CHAMP, which is housed in the Department of Pediatrics at the School of Medicine, is designed to thrive under these types of cross-collaborations, which will help bring more mentorship opportunities and educational outreach to the students of Arsenal Middle School, and the greater Pittsburgh community. 

Hoffman would like to acknowledge Jaime E. Sidani, PhD, MPH, CHES of the School of Public Health, who encouraged her to apply to the Institute this year, as well as Anna Donovan, MD, MS, of the School of Medicine, and Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, MD, MPH, FAAP, Associate Vice Chair of DEI in the Department of Pediatrics and one of the leaders of CHAMP. 

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