Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism, & Social Justice

In July 2020, the Duke Neurology Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Committee began a project to amplify the voices of our community through writing. This body is composed of faculty, staff, administration, residents, advanced practice providers, and post-doctoral fellows. Many members of our committee have never published before. Voices: Lived Experiences seemed to be the perfect opportunity to allow all members of our committee a chance to voice their perspectives on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Committee members were given the following prompts and asked to write briefly about one of these or any other personal story related to EDI:

1. Describe a time you experienced discrimination
2. Discuss why you joined the D&I Committee and what you hope to accomplish
3. Tell about a time you perpetrated discrimination that you now regret and what you learned from it

Authors were asked to provide their name, position, race, and gender but were given the opportunity to withhold any of these if they were uncomfortable sharing this information. Below, please find the voices of the Duke University Department of Neurology.

When comparing two job offers with department leadership, I was asked what my husband does. When I replied with his profession, I was told that “money shouldn’t matter to you.” 

Gender: Female
Position: Faculty

Attending a Cultural Awareness Week lecture as a first-year medical student, I was surprised by the blanket statement made by the professor that female genital mutilation regularly practiced by African tribes was due to their Islamic beliefs. Asked by a medical student if this was true, the professor did not hesitate. She said that she had looked at the Quran and found this to be true. As a practicing Muslim, I was shocked by her statement and her confidence in its validity. Checking with my colleagues in Islamic graduate programs and divinity school, I received an unequivocal response to the opposite. Checking the professor’s references, I realized that her claim was based on articles from a 3rd party that cited unverified religious texts. I notified the professor of her error and requested she send a correction email to the 500+ medical students whom she had made the false claim to. After a week without a response, I emailed my fellow medical students explaining that this inhumane practice was not endorsed by authentic Islamic religious text and the professor’s statement was based on unverified references. Many medical students appreciated the correction email and expressed surprise at her original statement. My fellow African medical students also expressed disappointment at her broad portrayal of Africa as an uneducated tribal continent and thanked me for the nuanced explanation that it was practiced among select tribes. Although I am not a particularly assertive person, I felt an obligation to speak up because it would affect the way a generation of physicians would perceive their Muslim and African patients. I reported the incident to the medical administration but the response was underwhelming. The senior medical students who organized the event sent a curt apology for my inconvenience while the Dean’s Office never responded to my email reporting the event.

Name: Noreen Bukhari-Parlakturk
Position: Faculty
Gender: Female
Race: Asian American

I joined the D&I committee to grow in my learnings of the multiple dimensions within the D&I continuum.  As a person often involved in hiring decisions for the Department, it was very important to me to ensure I understand unique aspects all individuals can bring to the Department regardless of race or background.  It is clear, the most successful organizations have a healthy balance within gender, mix of ethnic backgrounds and age.  

Additionally, being on the committee has allowed me to self-reflect on my personal blind spots to better understand them and to learn how I can grow and mature in my journey of self-understanding.

Name: J.T. Solomon                                                                      
Position: Chief Department Administrator
Race: White
Gender: Male

As a straight white male, I had reservations about joining our department's D&I committee. True, I have minority claims including a Jewish upbringing - though now staunchly atheist - though these seem hardly rare in most major medical centers in modern times. But I also identify as a progressive; as a feminist; as an LGBTQ ally; and anti-racist. Joining the D&I committee for me, was an opportunity to make sure I was doing more than just paying lip-service to these causes and have an opportunity to better hear the voices less often heard. It gave me an opportunity to check my own privilege and assumptions, as well as be a meaningful part of positive change in our Department, Health System, and University. 

Name: Matt Ehrlich
Position: Faculty
Race: White
Gender: Male

Human, sub-human, cattle, sub-cattle

Instances where I am reminded of who I am not are rare in my life. By appearance and name, I am not likely to be at the receiving end of such acts. Here is a memorable one, incidentally I was just applying for US Citizenship.

I had to go through US Border Control coming back from a foreign trip. Queued in line “Non-US Citizens” with other travelers, we faced a White officer. He made it clear that HE was human, EVERYBODY in line sub-human. The line was long and moved slowly. I witnessed the humiliating exchanges with people in front of me. He had a system: There were sub-humans, and there were cattle. When it came my turn, I immediately realized that I am cattle. - Passed him, breathe out, OK, fine. - But then I quickly learned that I was not the end of the food-chain: the family behind me were dark-skinned, of Middle Eastern origin (my assumption): Welcome to the US, sub-cattle, I could read in his mind.

Position: Faculty
Race: White
Gender: Male

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