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Updated October 2, 2023

Successfully leading academic sections and departments requires complex skill sets that do not flow automatically from traditional training programs or academic experience. Leaders of large academic units may lack sufficient mastery in finance, career development and practice organization for optimal success. Additionally, there is a paucity of individuals in leadership positions who have been impacted by life experiences related to discrimination, low socioeconomic status, or underserved environments*.

The Unified Leadership Training for Diversity (UNLTD, or "unlimited") Program, was founded by Dr. Mark Linzer, former Division Chief of General Internal Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, and developed by the Disparities Task Force (DTF) and the Minorities In Medicine (MIM) Interest Group, for two reasons:

  • Diversifying the faculty is a goal shared by virtually every major academic organization
  • Diversifying leadership is an effective way to diversify faculty, and ultimately promote a climate that will lead to diversity in medical students

*Those under-represented in medicine include those who have been impacted through life experiences such as discrimination, socioeconomic status or currently or historically underserved environment. Examples include low income household or locale, first-or second generation higher education student, low access to health care, food and proper nutrition, or disability.

Specific Aims

  1. To develop a leadership training program for junior and senior faculty to foster diversity within academic internal medicine, emphasizing mentorship, a formal curriculum, management training and experiential fellowships.
  2. To provide faculty from backgrounds that are under-represented* in academic leadership the knowledge and skills necessary to assume—and succeed at—leadership roles in departments of medicine.
  3. To empower underrepresented groups* in the program, and to demonstrate to non-underrepresented groups how these mechanisms can be used to foster diversity within their home institutions.
  4. To facilitate ongoing networking, dialogue and interaction among program graduates over time who could become mentors, trainers, and provide assistance in revising curriculum and training modules for future fellows in the UNLTD Program.

Learn more about nominations

2023 UNLTD Fellows

 

Christopher Jackson, MD
Ines Robles Aponte, MD   
Evan Shannon, MD, MPH Lucille Torres-Deas, MD


Past UNLTD Fellows

2022
Christopher J. Gonzalez, MD, MSCE
2022
Himali M. Weerahandi, MD   
2022
Emmanuel Mensah, MBA, MD
2022
Marshall Fleurant, MD, MPH
2021
Theresa C. Maatman, MD
2021
Tracey L. Henry, MD
2020
Brandon Allport-Altillo, MD, MPH
2020
Utibe Essien, MD, MPH
2020
Joni Williams, MD, MPH
2019
 Raquel Greer, MD
2019
Eloho Ufomata, MD, MS
2018
Alda Maria Gonzaga, MD, MS
2018
Chavon Onumah, MD, MPH
2017
Kierstin Cates Kennedy, MD, MSHA
2016
Anika A.H. Alvanzo, MD, MS
2016
Claudia L. Campos, MD
2015
Milda R. Saunders, MD, MPH
2015
Elizabeth L. Lee, MD
2014  
Adesuwa Olomu, MD, MS
2014 
Nancy Marie Denizard-Thompson, MD
2013
Ana M. Palacio, MD, MPH
2013
Erik A. Wallace, MD
2013
Phyllis A. Nsiah-Kumi, MD, MPH
2012
Crystal Cene, MD, MPH
2012
Cheryl Renee Clark, MD, ScD
2012
Monica Vela, MD
2011
Cristina M.  Gonzalez, MD, Med