As we move forward into 2023, societal challenges continue to impact each of us personally and professionally. The Committee on Professional Diversity (CPD) is working toward strengthening the career foundation for future and present trainees as well as mentorship and sponsorship of our junior faculty. The CPD leadership, under the auspices of ASA, is poised to institute and advance programs in order to meet the needs of our culturally diverse ASA membership and community.

CPD leadership transitioned at the 2022 ASA annual meeting, as our past chair, Crystal Wright, MD, FASA, was elected ASA Assistant Treasurer. Our leadership has expanded to meet the far-reaching goals of the committee, including Daniel Corsino, MD, as CPD Chair, along with two vice chairs, Odmara Barreto Chang, MD, PhD, Vice Chair of Community Outreach, and Tracey Straker, MD, MS, MPH, CBA, FASA, Vice Chair of Educational Affairs. Vilma Joseph, MD, has taken on the role of Director of the ASA Mentoring Grant Program. This leadership team is focused on responding to the needs of the membership and welcomes any feedback that may assist us in our objectives.

“The CPD has expanded in membership and has had exceptional growth over the past five years. The engagement by the committee membership has been phenomenal and has allowed the CPD to meet its target goals. The successful Doctors Back to School Program and ASA Mentoring Grant have been buoyed by CPD membership and ASA leadership.”

The CPD has expanded its membership and has had exceptional growth over the past five years. The engagement by the committee membership has been phenomenal and has allowed the CPD to meet its target goals. The successful Doctors Back to School Program and ASA Mentoring Grant have been buoyed by CPD membership and ASA leadership. We are grateful for the commitment of time, financial resources, progressive ideas, and constructive criticism that keep us focused on success.

The commitment and dedication of the committee members have allowed CPD to generate ideas for expansion of its scope in 2023. The CPD would like to expand the programs already in place and add innovative programs under its umbrella.

New and enhanced goals for CPD are:

  • Expansion of the Back to School Program to include middle school students
  • Growing financial support of the ASA Mentoring Grant to $100,000 through industry sponsorship
  • Collaboration with the ASA Committee on Young Physicians and committee residents and interns to create a mentoring grant program
  • Establishment of an MCAT pipeline program
  • Establishment of a Mentoring and Sponsorship program for junior faculty.

These are lofty goals, but with the support of our committee membership and ASA leadership, we are committed to making progress toward our objectives. In the upcoming weeks, emails will be going out to CPD membership on forming subcommittees for our initiatives. CPD asks the ASA membership for their continued participation and support as we look to continue our trajectory with increased impact.

The CPD acknowledges that the mantra of diversity, equity, and inclusion is an evolutionary process. The CPD is a small part of a monumental process, and we are humbled that within ASA we are entrusted with leading for change. CPD is successful because of your participation, and we encourage you to strive for growth with us.