Equality and inclusivity for all our employees, students, and patients is a precondition for our Connecting Worlds strategy. For our patients, we strive to ensure that everyone has equal access to good care. At UMC Utrecht, the Diversity and Inclusion Platform is active in helping build an organisation in which all our employees and students receive equal opportunities and equal rights.

UMC Utrecht would like to be a reflection of society. Therefore, the current social debates surrounding racial equality has stimulated us to reflect even further. Experiences of staff, students, and patients show that we should not look away from unequal treatment. This can be hidden, outspoken, incidental, or institutional.

The subject is complex, where reflection can be uncomfortable. But that's no reason to ignore it. On the contrary, we want to encourage people to discuss this with each other. To listen very carefully to employees, students, patients and the social debate. We must hold each other accountable to actively eradicate and prevent prejudice and racism. We are also curious about ideas that can contribute to positive change.

We must take up this challenge together. We, therefore, invite you to identify and fight against the inequalities within our own organisation. We all have unconscious biases, which we can reverse if we become aware of them. We ask you to join us in the fight against unjust inequality.

Diversity and Inclusion Activities at UMC Utrecht

The Diversity and Inclusion Platform at UMC Utrecht has been active for two years. During this time, we have started a dialogue across all departments, personnel, and students about inclusivity and diversity and their importance in creating a thriving and future-proof community.  Some of the activities we’ve helped organise are joining the national Diversity Day initiative and also creating a bias training programme for our educators and student mentors who help with the integration of first-years students.

Future Activities:

• Offer awareness training for all employees
• Critically examine our education for stereotyping in the curriculum
• Conduct research into the perceived inclusion of our students and staff
• Provide bias training in the department on request
• Organise a digital theatre piece as part of Diversity Day on October 1, 2020.

Would you like to share experiences, ideas, or solutions? Want to know more about what you can do and about our activities? Send us an email at belonging@umcutrecht.nl.

Platform Diversity & Inclusion

Gönül Dilaver, Chairwoman

Gisela van der Velden, Secretary

Myriam van Wijk, D&I Advisor