Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity
Center Faculty Affiliate Policy
v What is a Maya Angelou Center Faculty Affiliate?
A Center Faculty Affiliate is a member of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine faculty, or a person from another institution who has an adjunct appointment at the Medical Center, who is committed to joining the Center to achieve our mission and vision (see below).
Center Faculty Affiliates are an integral part of the success of the Center. Affiliates serve in advisory and mentoring capacities on behalf of the Center at the medical center and in the community, as well as collaborators on projects initiated by the Center.
v How do I become a Center Faculty Affiliate?
Approval of Center Faculty affiliations comes from the Dean of the Medical School, based on recommendations from the Director of the Maya Angelou Center. A CV and letter of support from your Department Chair must be sent to the Center Director for a recommendation to be made.
v What is expected of Center Faculty Affiliates?
Faculty affiliates are expected to be regular attendees of Center-sponsored faculty meetings, journal clubs and lectures. Also, participation in collaborative research projects is a critical component of success of the Center. Faculty affiliates will also be appointed to one of three program committees: Research, Community Outreach, and Faculty and Student Development. Other areas of involvement include:
o mentoring undergraduate or graduate students
o mentoring junior faculty and center staff
o reviewing pilot grants and student summer research proposals
o participating as a speaker or volunteering in some other capacity at community outreach events
o providing input on Center policies and procedures
v What else do I need to know?
As a representative of the Center, and in order to increase the exposure of the Center, it is desirable that you acknowledge your Center affiliation (along with your departmental appointment) in press releases involving your research, particularly research on health disparities.
For more information, please contact Dr. Ronny Bell, Center Director at 336-716-9736 or rbell@wfubmc.edu
Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity
Vision
The vision of the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity is to promote and achieve a world of total health and equity for all persons.
Mission
The Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity will achieve this vision in the regional, national, and international communities through our three program areas:
The mission of the Research and Evaluation program is to:
· Collaborate with partners within and external to the medical center to conduct research focused on factors underlying minority health and healthcare disparities and interventions aimed at reducing disparities
· Serve as a resource for planning, conducting, and evaluation of projects led by Center affiliated faculty
· Disseminate research findings which impact minority health within the medical center and to local and national communities impacted by that research
The mission of the Community Outreach program is to:
· Create authentic partnerships with community institutions and organizations to develop innovative programs to close the gaps in health and health care access for the underserved in regional, national, and international communities
· Serve as a health education and health promotion resource for engaging minority communities and the community at-large in collaborating with the Center to identify and address positive and negative factors underlying minority health and healthcare disparities
· Enhance understanding and importance of research involving racial and ethnic minorities in minority communities and among academic researchers, and foster the involvement of minority communities in research opportunities that are mutually beneficial for communities and researchers
The mission of the Faculty and Student Development program is to:
· Promote the recruitment and retention of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center/School of Medicine minority students, faculty, and staff
· Enhance the interaction between faculty and students through mentorship, easing the transition of minority students into the roles of clinicians, academicians, and research scientists
· Increase the cultural competence of ALL faculty and students