Mission Statement
The University of Tampa Physician Assistant Medicine Program’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee works to ensure that every student, staff and faculty member feels that they are a vital member of our community regardless of ethnicity or cultural beliefs that may otherwise be depicted as different from the majority. We strive to develop cultural competency among all members of our community via programming designed to increase every individual’s exposure to learning experiences that demonstrate the commonality of all humans and an appreciation and understanding of all cultures, lifestyles and ethnicities.
Motto
"Diverse in culture, united in purpose"
We value diversity and insist on inclusion because we recognize the health benefits of a diverse and inclusive clinical workforce. Diversity encompasses all that we are, including our innate demographics and cumulative life experiences, creating resiliency, empathy, compassion, and maturity. Recruiting, matriculating, and graduating diverse physician assistants with these valuable characteristics contributes to a healthcare system that is better prepared to treat all patients with dignity and respect.
Click here to learn more about our Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.
Service, Scholarship and Diversity
Our commitment to diversity and service is manifest in a student population that is participating in several scholarship opportunities to provide care for the most vulnerable. We currently have five students participating in the Health Professions Scholarship Program. Upon completing their physician assistant training, they will either provide care for veterans through the VA system or to military service members as members of the military.
Learn more about these programs at https://va-ams-info.intelliworxit.com/hpsp/ and https://veteran.com/hpsp/.
We have two students who are Health Resources and Services Administration: National Health Service Corps (HRSA NHSC) scholars. This program awards scholarships to students who are pursuing primary care careers in underserved areas. These scholarships are highly competitive and graduates are placed in areas of highest need of medical care upon graduation.
Learn more about the HRSA NHSC at https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/.
Other scholarships our students earned are the Navy Health Scholars Collegiate Program, the American Warriors Association, the Vietnamese Healthcare Professionals Association and the KML Foundation. In addition to this, over 30% of our students are using their GI Bill benefits to attend PA training.
- PA students from groups underrepresented in medicine will be at or above the average represented within the Physician Assistant Matriculating Student Survey
- 20% of PA matriculates will have prior military/veteran status
Meeting Goals:
Learn more about the characteristics of matriculated cohorts (PDF).
- PAM 661 Community Medicine - Topics Included:
- Social Determinants of Health
- Medical Care for Vulnerable Populations
- The Role of Religion in Medicine
- Racism in Medicine
- Recognizing Personal Bias and its Affect on the Health Care you Provide
- Other courses train students to provide medical care to patients with consideration for ethnicity and race, gender identity, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status.
Events
- The PA students and faculty organized an event for Black History Month that celebrated the role of black physician assistants. This event included an educational segment on historical, prominent black PAs with a panel of PAs who shared their stories. They invited a panel of military PAs and MDs who spoke to their commitment to healthcare in a diverse organization. To help the Tampa Bay community, they identified a local medical facility, Metro Inclusive Health, that provides inclusive health care in the community and raised funds. Metro Inclusive Health provides primary care, mental health, sexual health, hormone replacement therapy, HIV care, pharmacy services, LGBTQ+ community programming and many more services to the Tampa Bay area.
- The students signed up to volunteer at Feeding Tampa Bay to help package and hand out meals to individuals in need.
Awards
- The institution provided funding for these events and recognized our PA program student organization for its work in this area with the Outstanding Commitment to Diversity Award presented during Leadership Awards Night 2021.
February 2024: In honor of Black History Month, we hosted a panel discussion with local providers to discuss healthcare and Black providers. This event highlighted racial diversity in healthcare and addressed the experiences and challenges faced by Black providers and patients.
March 2024: To increase awareness of the PA profession as a career option, we hosted the "PA for a Day" event for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. This event promoted diversity by introducing underrepresented youth to healthcare careers, inspiring future PA professionals from diverse backgrounds.
March 2024: The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay visited to discuss human trafficking in the Tampa Bay area. This event raised awareness of vulnerable populations and promoted inclusive care by equipping future healthcare professionals to recognize and support victims of human trafficking.
April 2024: We participated in "Wear Blue for Autism" to support Autism Awareness. This event advocated for neurodiversity and encouraged future health professionals to recognize the importance of inclusive care for individuals with autism.
April 2024: We supported "Wear Denim for Sexual Assault Awareness" to highlight sexual assault prevention and survivor support. This event reinforced the need for trauma-informed care and raised awareness of sexual violence, promoting a compassionate approach to survivors' healthcare.
May 2024: For Mental Health Week, we included yoga, a day in the park, resiliency training, and service dogs. This event supported mental health awareness and self-care, promoting well-being for both healthcare providers and patients.
June 2024: During a Lunch and Learn, a provider from Metro Inclusive Health presented on LGBTQ+ medicine. This event focused on inclusive healthcare for LGBTQ+ communities, highlighting the importance of culturally competent care in diverse patient populations.
October 2024: A Hispanic panel of medical and health profession providers, including two UTampa PA Alumni, will discuss healthcare and Hispanic culture. This event will celebrate Hispanic heritage and emphasize culturally relevant healthcare for Hispanic communities.
November 2024: We will honor Military Appreciation Month. This event will highlight the healthcare needs of veterans and active-duty service members, promoting awareness of military culture and service-related health issues.
