The Department of Pediatrics has always been committed to leadership in pediatric healthcare, education, and discovery. As one of the premier healthcare centers in the country, we provide the highest levels of care for our patients and house of the most celebrated institutions of education and development for residents, fellows, and faculty in the country. And in creating our world-class institution, our Department has always remained committed to promoting an environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are prioritized, empowering our faculty, staff, and students to thrive. 
Our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is committed to embracing our core principles and embracing our differences across the range of human experience. To that end, this year our DEI office established the Justice in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) award, recognizing a member of our Department of Pediatrics faculty who is a champion of of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in pediatric medicine and our community.
For the inaugural JEDI award, the DEI has selected Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, MD, MPH, FAAP, in recognition of the depth, breadth, and commitment of her work in this space. In her nominating comments, Sylvia Choi, MD, FAAP, Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs, noted that “Owusu-Ansah combines vision on multiple levels of what should and can be with the intense grit and dedication to make things happen…She has tirelessly spoken out to leadership about the need to create and support a diverse group of providers.” Through her efforts, Owusu-Ansah culminated in a loan forgiveness program for underrepresented and minority (URiM) faculty members.
In addition to challenging and addressing gaps that URiM faculty face in the career development in academic medicine, Owusu-Ansah, with collaboration from Noel Spears, MD, MPH, and Orquidia Torres, MD, MS, created the CHAMP organization, which brings mentorship, opportunity, and knowledge to Pittsburgh’s most impoverished and diverse students at Arsenal Middle School.
At the national level, Owusu-Ansah is working with our elected leaders, Representative Summer Lee and Senator John Fetterman, in order to bring congressional recognition for Freedom House, the nation’s first Emergency Medical Service staffed by trained paramedics, which was staffed entirely by black paramedics.
Join us in congratulating Owusu-Ansah on this wonderful recognition. Follow Pitt Pediatrics on Twitter for more updates about awards and recognition for our faculty.