Panel Discussions
Oppression and Resilience Minority Health
Patrice K. Malone, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York
Claude A. Mellins, Ph.D.
Professor of Medical Psychology
Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York
Robert Fullilove, M.S.
Associate Dean for Community and Minority Affairs
Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York
Tonya M. Richards, M.S.
Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Columbia University Medical Center
Valley Stream, New York
Monica Lypson, M.D.
Vice Dean of Education
Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York
Warren Ng, M.D.
Medical Director Outpatient Behavioral Health
Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York
COVID-19 presented an unprecedented public health crisis, putting a substantial burden on medical centers, increasing the psychological toll on all. CopeColumbia was developed as a peer support program with a mission to foster collective well-being, mental health, and resilience by sharing evidence-based coping strategies, facilitating access to peer support, and contributing to an inclusive, compassionate work culture. Our local and national communities also experienced racial and social injustice in an upfront and disturbing way, especially in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. As a result, many CopeColumbia peer support groups were requested by teams at our medical center who were experiencing challenges around racial stress and bias during the pandemic in the workplace and beyond. Although these peer-led conversations were emotional and difficult, we noticed that they brought about a sense of safety and healing that was urgently needed. As the demand for these groups increased, CopeColumbia recognized an opportunity to initiate these conversations on a broader scale. In collaboration with our colleagues in Human Resources and the Office of Faculty Professional Development, Diversity & Inclusion, we created “Bold Conversations for Healing and Reshaping Our Medical Center Community,” an ongoing series in which panelists from across the medical center have spoken about their experiences and modeled what it is like to be courageous in having transparent conversations about racial stress in the workplace. In this panel, we will (1) discuss our experiences developing and implementing this program from multiple perspectives; (2) describe collaborations, (3) summarize the main themes raised in Bold Conversations, (4) explore barriers related to collective wellbeing and resilience as it pertains to racial stress and bias experiences, (5) provide direction on how to foster a culture of inclusion and compassion, and (6) identify opportunities for research about these important initiatives. We will also invite attendees to share their experiences with addressing stress related to racial and social injustice at their institutions.