The 2021-2022 RBI x CAP Fellows
The inaugural RBI x CAP Fellowship cohort has been selected, and the RBI and CAP teams are excited to work with our amazing group of students. Fellows will serve as an invaluable capacity-building resource for school and institution-wide antiracism initiatives.
Throughout the year, Fellows will contribute to the existing body of antiracist work within Medical Education through nine key projects across the School:
Image Diversity
Curricular Affairs
Create a database collection of images of clinical conditions seen among Black and Brown individuals.
Investigating Institutional Actions
Admissions
Assist in investigating the state of institutional actions (IA) and conduct a review of the literature to determine if bias/racism impacts institutional actions
Appreciative Advising Evaluation
Student Affairs
Help to create a timely, valid, and transparent system for students to provide feedback around Appreciative Advising and the Office of Student Affairs
Navigating Patient Bias Assessment
Curricular Affairs
Assist in developing a facilitated formative assessment for navigating racist patient behavior
Anti-Oppressive MEPO Assessment
Curricular Affairs
Develop a comprehensive list of existing assessment tools related to anti-oppression for the new Medical Education Program Objective (MEPO)
Undergrad Database
Admissions
Create and maintain a database of URiM student organizations on undergrad campuses for admissions recruitment and create a communications strategy for outreach
Equity in Admissions
Admissions
Assist in developing the next faculty development retreat, and update the Equity Handbook for the Admissions Committee
Equity-Based Policy Review
Medical Education
Identify and collect existing equity-based policy review tools, protocols, and other best practices and determine their utility in the medical education environment
Leading Student Sphere
The Racism & Bias Initiative
Oversee and monitor the change targets in the student sphere as well as oversee student involvement in Chats for Change, Orientation, and other RBI Spheres.
Meet the Fellows
Claire Ufongene
Pronouns: She/Her
Fun fact about me: I met Chance the Rapper and D.R.A.M one time.
If you knew you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you bring?
Magical mini TV that works without connectivity so I can still watch my shows, Sunscreen, and a Walkie-Talkie with a very long antenna, so I can get us off the island.
What are you looking forward to most about the Fellowship?
I’m looking forward to having a creative outlet in medical school that involves imagining ideas that will make Icahn Mount Sinai a more anti-racist and bias-conscious institution. I’m also excited to learn from those who came before me in doing this work, as well as my peers on how to make our ideas a reality!
Jerrel Cattlet
Pronouns: Him/His
Fun fact about you: I’ve never actually been taught how to use the “proper” grip for a writing utensil. I’ve always written with all five fingertips touching my pencil, and have reasonably good handwriting.
If you knew you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you bring?
- Solar-powered water desalination device
- My favorite book: They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib
- A rope hammock for chill island vibes
What are you looking forward to most about the Fellowship?
Having the opportunity to create institutional reforms that improve the lived experiences of current and future BIPOC students, residents, and faculty members at Mount Sinai.
Don Nguyen
Pronouns: Him/His
Fun fact about you: I love exploring the world, learning about other cultures and have been to 10 different countries.
If you knew you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you bring?
Sunscreen, water purifier, and… my partner? That’s allowed, right?
What are you looking forward to most about the Fellowship?
I am most looking forward to being surrounded by people who are as passionate as I am about racial equity and social justice and to see the institutional changes and impact of our work.
Paloma Orozco Scott
Pronouns: They/She (I like for people to use both.)
Fun fact about you: I’ve made and performed some performance art pieces. My favorite performance I’ve done was a two-person protest. (Ask me about it!)
If you knew you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you bring?
The holy trinity: computer, iPhone, iPad. Just kidding! I love gardening and would bring seeds/cuttings, a very large stylish sun hat (your friend [me] is a sunburn-prone white Latine), and a massive magical water bottle that is always full.
What are you looking forward to most about the Fellowship?
I’m most looking forward to the lessons I will learn from the other fellows and the didactic sessions! I feel that solidarity and coalition building are the first building blocks of anti-racist work and institutional change. I’m confident that the lessons I learn from the other fellows and my teachers will become essential parts of my life-long commitment to activism and organizing.
Francesca Silvestri
Pronouns: She/Hers
Fun fact about you: I got into doing my nails during quarantine and can do pretty nice nail art and designs. I have a whole gel lamp and nail kit in my room.
If you knew you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you bring?
A blanket because I’m not very resourceful and it can be multi-purposed, a Costco size box of Famous Amos cookies to hold me over for a bit because I’m assuming the island will not have chocolate, and my phone in the hope that I could get service.
What are you looking forward to most about the Fellowship?
I’m most excited to learn more in depth about how Med Ed functions as its own entity and within the context of the broader health system. Additionally, I’ve worked with RBI in the past, but I am also super excited to incorporate a more formal structure for student involvement in RBI work and its change management model.
Uchechukwu Amakiri
Pronouns: He/Him
Fun fact about you: My favorite form of transportation is a smooth ride on my Arbor longboard.
If you knew you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you bring?
An unlimited bag of Trolli sour gummy worms, my Chefman air fryer to cook the fish that I will inevitably catch, and Toni Morrison’s Beloved because no matter how many times you read that book, there is always some new theme to explore in Morrison’s writing.
What are you looking forward to most about the Fellowship?
I am looking forward to being a part of actionable change efforts while being pushed by my co-fellows to nuance and further my understanding of diversity and inclusion in the medical sphere.
The RBI x CAP Fellowship could not be possible without the leadership of Medical Education, Racism & Bias Initiative (RBI), the Center for Antiracism in Practice (CAP), our project administrators across the School, and the advocacy and dedication of our students. The Fellowship ensures that students who participate in antiracism efforts have an opportunity to be compensated for their work, and to be directly mentored by antiracism thought leaders at Icahn Mount Sinai.
“The RBI x CAP Fellowship represents a paradigm shift in the way we think about antiracism work in academic medicine. The Fellowship acknowledges for the first time that these efforts are as valuable as all our other missions – research, clinical care, and service to our communities. As we demonstrate the success of this program, I hope to see this recognition expand to include the antiracism work that faculty and staff do as well.”
“The RBI x CAP fellowship will allow our students to be compensated for their long standing contributions to the meaningful work we have done and continue to do to undo racism at the Icahn School of Medicine. Students have been a strong driving force for change and have been thought-leading partners since the beginning of our journey. We are so proud of their work and look forward to collaborating in this new space.”
Please join us in congratulating and welcoming our Fellows as they commence the first ever RBI x CAP Fellowship and take on a vital role at our school. If you have any questions about the RBI x CAP Fellowship, please email jay.johnson@mssm.edu.