Arab Heritage Month Reflection
With April’s designation as Arab American Heritage Month drawing to a close this week, Souha Farhat, MD, post-doctoral research fellow, Houston Methodist Institute for Reconstructive Surgery, and founder and chair of the Arab Heritage employee resource group (ERG), shares her reflections on the month.
“As a Lebanese doctor born and raised in Lebanon, I am especially proud to be working at Houston Methodist, the home of the legendary Dr. Michael DeBakey, who is the son of Lebanese immigrants. Dr. DeBakey’s innovative contributions to the field of cardiovascular surgery, including the invention of the artificial heart, continue to save millions of lives to this day.
“During this month, I extend a heartfelt invitation to all individuals with Arab origins to reconnect with their Arab identity and reflect on what it means to be Arab. It is crucial that we acknowledge the shared values that unite all Arabs around the world, including our profound love for family, generosity and appreciation for delicious cuisine.
“Since its establishment in January 2022, the Arab Heritage ERG has flourished and now boasts a membership of over 120 individuals spread across the HM system, with new members joining us each day.
“Let us come together and celebrate Arab American Heritage Month by paying tribute to the Arab visionaries who have contributed to this country and the world. Furthermore, let us support one another in serving our community, both at Houston Methodist and beyond.”
Office of DEI Year Review
2022 was a year of enormous growth and engagement for the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. View the office of DEI’s Annual Report for a full summary of the year and a look at our initiatives and programs for 2023 and beyond.
DEI Learning Sessions Offer CME and Ethics Accreditation
The current learning sessions offered by the Office of DEI—Together We Grow, Managing Unconscious Bias, Navigating Multigenerational Teams and Recognizing the Impact of Microaggressions—offer AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ and ethics credit per attended sessions. The learnings help to further your knowledge and understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion topics that can enhance relationships with co-workers, patients and guests. Sessions are available virtually or in-person. Register for the learnings by visiting the LMS and searching “DEI.” To schedule a session for your group, contact Kamali Archer at Karcher@houstonmethodist.org.
Want to Be a Better Ally?
Would you like to learn “How to Be a Better Ally in the Workplace?” The DEI Toolkit provides resources on allyship and numerous other topics to help you and your team continue the conversation around important DEI topics. The Toolkit is continuously updated, so check back regularly for more resources.
Register for In-Person Managing Unconscious Bias Session at HMSL
The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion has scheduled an in-person Managing Unconscious Bias learning session at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital on Thursday, May 4. The session will be held in the Main AD (Main AD) Conference Room from 2 – 3 p.m. The engaging and judgement-free learning session will provide you with the tools and skills to recognize and articulate various types of unconscious bias and effectively begin to mitigate them. To register, click HERE or log into LMS and search: 1605003. For more information, contact Sdiazmulero@houstonmethodist.org.
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