Fostering diversity in our fellowship at Mayo Clinic

We are committed to delivering culturally competent, high-quality care by supporting a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage diverse applicants to apply to our program; including those who have historically been excluded from the field of psychiatry due to race/ethnicity, socioeconomic background, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and disability status. We believe that the learning environment is enriched by including trainees and faculty from a mix of backgrounds and experiences.

Our faculty includes individuals from diverse cultural and clinical training backgrounds. Our program facilitates personally and professionally supportive and affirming relationships between fellows and faculty. Our faculty members welcome the opportunity to provide professional mentorship to minority fellows and junior colleagues. Many of our faculty and trainees are active members of professional national organizations that champion issues of diversity, inclusion, and health equity.

Our vision

"Using the three shields as a guide, we will strive to advocate for underserved communities, increase diversity by involving disadvantaged and marginalized populations in our work, address inequity and unfairness that affect both our staff and patient population, and mentor and support colleagues in culturally competent care."
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology
Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Committee

Application process

We review all applications systematically and comprehensively in an effort to understand who you are as a person, how you approach the process of your education, and your potential career goals. Particular attention is paid to applicants’ intersectional identities and the ways in which lived experiences and systemic barriers may influence academic trajectories. Our recruitment committee is comprised of diverse faculty and fellows. All members of the committee complete anti-bias training.

Diversity resources

Mayo Clinic is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and is pledging $100 million over the next 10 years to eliminate racism, advance equity and inclusion, and improve health equity. Mayo Clinic's work of diversity, equity, and inclusion is delivered through the internal community of passionate people, committees, and initiatives ― recognizing that diversity, equity, and inclusion work is neither centralized nor hierarchical.

Diversity curriculum

Cultural competency is a foundational professional competency for child and adolescent psychiatrists and is therefore integral to all training experiences throughout the fellowship, as reflected in formal evaluation of training milestones. Didactics and seminars offer a space for conversation about diversity-related topics and issues relevant to clinical practice, research, teaching, and training. These meetings allow for supportive, non-judgmental, and inclusive discussion about challenging and thought-provoking cultural issues. These are also a space where trainees reflect upon and challenge individual and systemic biases.

In addition to didactic seminars, fellows complete a course in cross-cultural communication to enhance culturally appropriate communication strategies for assessment, intervention, consultation, and research. This course takes place in the simulation center. Fellows are observed in real-time as they engage with patient actors of diverse backgrounds and receive immediate feedback from facilitators.

Additionally, Grand Rounds includes a number of topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Research

Mayo Clinic is committed to diversity in research (for example, inclusion of groups historically underrepresented in research, examination of factors impacting health equity, etc.). Please see individual biographies regarding publications and research interests. Diversity on research teams is considered during reviews of protocols and grant submissions at the department level.