Anti-Racism and Social Justice Initiatives
Show up. Stand up. Speak Out.
The UIC College of Applied Health Sciences is at the forefront of many issues in the headlines today: racial and social economic barriers to health care; the need for greater focus on prevention and wellness; the inefficiencies in our health care delivery system; the importance of educating the public about health; and training the next generation of educators, discoverers, collaborators and educators.
We reaffirm our commitment to social justice, access, equity and anti-racism, and we will continue our work toward creating a world in which every person can live a healthy and self-determined life.
AHS departments and units
Committees and working groups
- AHS Inclusive Excellence Task Force
This college-wide task force of faculty, staff and students identifies specific goals, action plans/steps and strategies for enhancing diversity and inclusion across the AHS academic enterprise and culture. - DHD Diversity Committee
This committee in the Department of Disability and Human Development is developing a proposal to hire more post-doctoral candidates and faculty of color. - OT Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Academic (IDEA) Committee
The Department of Occupational Therapy promotes and celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging across its academic and community efforts. Through the work of the IDEA Committee, the department fosters an inclusive learning environment where diverse perspectives are respected and nurtured. The committee supports a sense of belonging, cultivates a caring community and addresses issues of racial and social justice. - PT Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board
The advisory board, which includes a diverse representation of Department of Physical Therapy faculty, staff and students, recommends initiatives to promote a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion across the department.
Community services
- Healthy Living Clinic
We believe that any increase in physical movement is beneficial, using evidence-based approaches to increase physical activity for people where they work, live and learn. Services are available free for patients from UI Health clinics through referrals from their primary care physician or physical therapist. The clinic is student-facilitated; student counselors receive training on behavior change counseling methods, cultural literacy, cultural responsiveness, anti-racist research methodologies, health and physical literacy, and active listening. Individuals are connected to community fitness programs for free services that promote lifelong physical activity. - Health and Wellness Academy
An independent study course offered in fall and spring semesters. Our mission is to empower Chicago youth to become ambassadors of health and wellness by taking ownership over their lifestyle choices, and building positive relationships with food and movement. UIC students and Chicago youth form relationships that motivate learning beyond the classroom and into the community. UIC students facilitate hands-on learning as students from Altus Academy engage in meaningful physical activity and learn to cook healthy and delicious food.
Faculty and staff recruitment, training and professional development
- Bridge to Faculty
Two departments in the College of Applied Health Sciences have been awarded Bridge to Faculty fellowships. Occupational Therapy received its first fellowship in 2020, followed by Disability and Human Development in 2022. The B2F program is a campuswide initiative designed to recruit underrepresented postdoctoral scholars with the goal of transitioning them into tenure-track faculty roles after two years. Both the OT and DHD fellows successfully transitioned to tenure-track positions.
Research and discovery
- AHS research labs and centers
AHS has over two dozen research labs and centers that drive discovery at the intersection of health, disability, rehabilitation and advocacy, including the Entrepreneurship for Youth with Disabilities research lab that works with youth with disabilities from low-income communities. - Institute on Disability and Human Development
The Department of Disability and Human Development, and its Institute on Disability and Human Development, has a primary social justice mission of breaking down barriers for people with disabilities. It aligns with anti-racism in all its courses and initiatives, with a focus on underserved populations. - Health Tech Jam
Meeting with community members – affected by health disparities – to determine needs, then brainstorm and draft new smartphone solutions through the Department of Physical Therapy and the Program in Biomedical Visualization’s annual Health Tech Jam. Participants are exposed to inclusivity issues and representation in public health material.
Scholarship
- Healthy living and social justice
A team of Department of Physical Therapy researchers outlined the disproportionate impact the combination of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, chronic disease and COVID-19 infection have on Black and Hispanic individuals in underserved communities. - AHS courses
Anti-racism and social justice scholarship is woven into many of our college courses. View the complete AHS course catalog here and here. - Scholarship of Practice Day
Held annually, Scholarship of Practice (SOP) Day brings together students, faculty, practitioners and community members to explore critical issues in occupational therapy and community health. The event features keynote speakers, student and faculty presentations, and emerging scholarship. SOP Day fosters meaningful dialogue, promotes innovation and highlights the department’s commitment to advancing occupational justice. - ARE VOICES (Advancing Racial Equity through Elevating the Voices of Diverse Communities)
ARE VOICES is a collaborative initiative between OT students, faculty, staff and community partners. It aims to collect and share strengths-based stories focused on lived or caregiving experiences related to health or disability. These narratives highlight resilience, spirituality, kinship, healing and collective support. The curated digital library will serve as a teaching tool across health sciences disciplines and a resource for academic and community advocacy. This initiative was funded by the UIC Office of Diversity, Equity & Engagement. - Curricular Integration of DEIA and Social Justice
The OT department integrates DEIA and social justice principles throughout the entry-level curriculum to prepare students to serve individuals, groups and communities. These efforts align with the department’s strategic plan and UIC’s Advancing Racial Equity strategic goals. Faculty employ strategies such as: introducing foundational concepts such as cultural humility and implicit bias; using case studies and problem-based learning to encourage discussion; exploring the effects of racism through cases focused on trauma and stress; hosting panels with speakers who share lived experiences; and inviting diverse guest speakers throughout the curriculum.
Student-led initiatives
- Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity
COTAD is a student-led organization committed to promoting equity, inclusion and belonging within the OT academic environment. The group sponsors panels, organizes community service projects, collects basic necessities for local agencies, and creates spaces for meaningful conversations on social justice.
Student recruitment, admissions and retention
- AHS Inclusive Excellence Task Force Subcommittee on Holistic Admissions
Read the committee’s cross-departmental recommendations - Urban Health Program
The Urban Health Program in AHS recruits and supports students from underrepresented minority groups, specifically African Americans, Latinx and Native Americans, into graduate and professional degree programs leading to health care-related careers. The program develops a pipeline of underrepresented health professionals dedicated to improving the quality and availability of health care in underserved urban areas. - OT holistic admissions model
The Department of Occupational Therapy uses a holistic admissions process that balances academic metrics with a broad range of experiences and personal attributes. Admissions reviewers consider volunteer work, employment, extracurricular involvement and other life experiences to evaluate each applicant’s potential for success, both in the program and in the occupational therapy profession. - Student scholarships
We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive student body. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have established nine scholarship funds to financially support students from historically marginalized communities. - Enhancing Cross-disciplinary Innovation and Training Opportunities
The EXITO Program (Enhancing Cross-disciplinary Innovation and Training Opportunities) is a transformative, three-year research training experience for AHS undergraduate students from underserved and historically marginalized communities.