About Moran's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
Vision and Mission
A Message from Liliana Werner, Moran Vice-Chair for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Welcome to the site of the Committee for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) of the Moran Eye Center. This site will evolve as new information and resources become available, and concrete actions towards EDI are underway.
When I moved to Salt Lake City to join the Moran Eye Center faculty in 2002, feeling welcomed, appreciated, and respected in my identity as a woman, Latina, and Brazilian immigrant was vitally important to me. We do not take for granted that all potential candidates and newly recruited faculty, staff, and trainees yearn for the same feeling, especially those from historically excluded communities.
As Chair of the Committee for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Moran Eye Center, I would like to invite ALL at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences to join us in our efforts to accomplish our mission!
- Liliana Werner, MD, PhD
"For the question, why do you do it? Because it needs to be done..."
Committee Members

Liliana Werner, MD, PhD
Co-Director, Intermountain Ocular Research Center
Moran Vice-Chair for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Chair of Committee for EDI

Judith Warner, MD, Clinical Professor
Vice-Chair of Quality and Value
Head of Residency Application Committee

Jeff Pettey, MD, MBA, Assistant Professor
Vice-Chair of Education
Residency Program Director

Austin S. Nakatsuka, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor

Lynn Ward
Executive Director for External Relations

Barbara Korous
Director, Operations
Academic Program, Administrative Support
Facilities Mgt. and Information Systems

Nnana Amakiri, MD
Resident
MORAN SCHOLARSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Ophthalmology Fellowship to Increase Opportunities for Underrepresented Minorities in Medicine
Ophthalmology Administrative Staff Internship Opportunities
The goal of this program is to work with local universities and provide real experience and training in administrative and clinical work In ophthalmology. Interest from URM candidates is welcome. Please contact brandon.creswell@hsc.utah.edu.
Video Resources
Moran Eye Center Resources
Reimagining Talent Management in Ophthalmology Residency Recruitment
Jeff Pettey, MD, MBA
Srav Vegunta, MD
Presenter at large: Sunny Nakae, PhD
Moran Eye Center Grand Rounds, March 24, 2021
Underrepresented Minority Applicants in Ophthalmology: A Moran Update
Presented by Chris Bair, MD, and Brad Jacobsen, MD.
Implicit Bias and Anti-Racism
Housestaff faculty meeting led by Wendy Hobson-Rohrer, the Associate Vice President, Health Sciences Education, and José Rodríguez, the Associate Vice President of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Project Implicit Tests
Tests developed by the Project Implicit research group that were used in preparation for the Moran housestaff faculty meeting on Implicit Bias and Anti-Racism.
Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring
The purpose of this program, a partnership between the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology, is to increase diversity in ophthalmology by helping URM students in medicine to become competitive ophthalmology residency applicants. Moran Vice-Chair of Education Jeff Pettey, MD, MBA, currently volunteers as a mentor. Recent Moran Fellow Nikko Ronquillo, MD, PhD, participated for several years and spoke about ophthalmology to medical students at several events in 2020, including the Latino Medical Student Association National Conference.
Presidential Commission on the Status of Women
Moran's Mary Elizabeth Hartnett, MD, FACS, FARVO, is a co-chair of the University of Utah Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. The purpose of the commission is to provide leadership and expertise to the University of Utah community in promoting University women in their various roles and activities, and serving as a forum for exchanging ideas within the University.
Book Club for Faculty, Fellows, and Residents
The Book Club kicked off with a discussion of “How to be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi, with an introduction by Dr. José E. Rodríguez, Associate Vice President for Health Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion, University of Utah.
Essay
University of Utah Resources
Utah Health Equity Leadership & Mentoring (U-HELM)
Launched at the School of Medicine in 2018, the U-HELM program provides mentoring and leadership development opportunities to junior faculty members and postdoctoral scholars who are either from underrepresented populations in the health sciences or involved in health equity research, teaching, or clinical practice.
Home- Rural & Underserved Utah Training Experience (RUUTE)
Its mission is to improve medical education and training, health care access and long-term socio-economic benefit for rural and underserved communities of Utah and the surrounding states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming by expanding interest, awareness, and placement of students and physicians.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism Leadership Strategy (IDEALS)
The IDEALS website covers a range of topics for the graduate medical education community, from implicit bias and social determinants of health to anti-racist resources. The site also includes interactive content such as an implicit bias test and surveys.
Microaggressions
The University of Utah Office for Inclusive Excellence seeks to engage, support, and advance an environment fostering the values of respect, diversity, equity, inclusivity, and academic excellence for students in our increasingly global campus community. One focus is to promote a better understanding and awareness of microaggressions. These are subtle--often unintentional--statements or actions that reveal unconscious biases toward members of marginalized communities. While anyone may experience prejudice or stereotyping, the term "microaggressions" is used specifically in connection to those in historically marginalized groups. Those groups include gender, race, ethnicity, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, national origin, citizenship status, or any of these intersecting identities. Find out more about microaggressions and ways to respond with the links below.
For University of Utah Faculty and Staff — SOGI and Transgender Health Resources
University of Utah Events
MEDiversity Week
The mission of MEDiversity Week highlights the equity, diversity, and inclusion work within U Health, while addressing health care disparities and offering solutions for the training of our current and future providers.
Inclusion Day
The University of Utah offices for Health Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion and Graduate Medical Education sponsored a virtual inclusion social last November to welcome and recruit residents from underrepresented/historically excluded groups. All interested applicants and trainees were welcome to attend. The event included a panel of diverse trainees who spoke about their experience coming to and being in Utah.
Women in Ophthalmology
EnVision Summit Ophthalmology
Annual conference created by physicians to support and empower women leaders in an innovative format for continuing medical education, which will take place every President's Day Weekend in Puerto Rico.
Women in Ophthalmology Society
Society with the goal to enhance and improve the professional environment for women ophthalmologists.