About the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI)
Message from MGH VP/Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
The CDI is excited to partner with our new executive sponsor, Wendy Macias-Konstantopoulos, MD, MPH, MBA, who in August 2023 was named as the vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer for faculty, trainees and students at MGH.
The MGH Office of the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (OCDIO) aims to promote and sustain a diverse and inclusive culture where every individual feels valued, supported, and connected. The goals of the OCDIO at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Mass General Physicians Organization are to actively engage members of our community; align our local efforts with Mass General Brigham's Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and United Against Racism; and cultivate a vibrant, welcoming environment that articulates our unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
The OCDIO provides executive oversight and sponsorship for the following MGH institutional entities:
- Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI)
- Center for Gun Violence Prevention
- Center for Immigrant Health
- Disability Program
- Office for Belonging and Engagement (OBE)
We invite all in our community to join CDI in the OCDIO's efforts in creating an environment where all can engage, thrive, and belong as their whole and authentic selves.
Our History
The Mass General Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) champions the recruitment and progression of physicians and scientists underrepresented in medicine (UiM). We strive to create an engaged workforce at Mass General, where everyone can genuinely experience a sense of belonging.
The hospital's workforce diversity efforts officially started in 1992 with the formation of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI). Initially called the Office for Minority Health Professions, the program was made up of a small but vocal minority who were based in the Department of Medicine. It soon expanded to all clinical departments.
Show Timeline
1992 | Established the Office of Minority Health Professions (OMHP) in the Department of Medicine. Winfred Williams, MD was the founding director.
1998 | OMHP renamed to Multicultural Affairs Office (MAO); appointed three faculty associate directors.
2000 | Senior administrator hired; MAO expanded to work with all hospital departments across the career continuum of physicians and scientists—students, trainees and faculty.
2001 | Manager of trainee affairs position created as faculty liaison for trainees; established the Organization of Minority Residents and Fellows (OMRF); created the Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) mentorship program for medical students across Massachusetts that evolved into the Harvard Medical School URM mentorship program.
2001 | Appointed a program director for cross-cultural education to lead efforts in educating and creating a more culturally competent physician workforce.
2004 | Minority Faculty Development Award Program established to include both a Physician/Scientist Development Award and Clinician-Teacher Development Award.
2006 | Advisory Board created, co-chaired by Mass General President Peter L. Slavin, MD and Dr. Williams; executive director and program manager positions created to meet demands of growing programs and initiatives.
2010 | Championed the development of departmental diversity action plans, which led to the creation of department-specific diversity committees and boards and departmental diversity goals.
2010 | Expanded offerings in cross-cultural education to include team-based learning, and later (2014) unconscious bias training.
2011 | Hosted first alumni reunion, bringing back prominent URM alumni for a weekend of seminars, networking and celebration.
2012 | Became signature sponsor and organizer of the inaugural YW Boston Stand Against Racism at Mass General, now an annual multidepartmental event to discuss issues of race and racism across MGH.
2012 | Organized and hosted first Student National Medical Association National Leadership Program and regional Latino Medical Students Association meeting at Mass General.
2014 | The hospital-wide strategic planning effort revitalized the MGH/MGPO Diversity and Inclusion Committee and created an Executive Committee on Community Health. MAO was an integral part of this strategic planning effort and staff have leadership roles on both committees.
2015 | MAO was renamed to the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, to reflect the expansion of programs and initiatives. All initiatives became “CDI” focused, e.g., the CDI Faculty Development Award Program; the OMRF evolved into the CDI Resident and Fellow Committee.
2016 | SRTP expanded to 20 college and medical students, providing a more longitudinal experience.
2017 | CDI secured funding from ECOR and MGPO for two awards in each category: Physician/Scientist and Clinician-Educator.
The Untold Story: UIM Pioneers at Mass General
Since 1913, Mass General has had many "first" physicians who are and were underrepresented in medicine. This slide show gives us a window into their contributions.
Download the slideshow (PDF)Support Our Work
Massachusetts General Hospital believes it is our responsibility to do everything we can to promote diversity, inclusion and equity in our workplace, our communities and our nation.