HSCommunity: Unlock Your Strengths
HSCommunity is a newsletter highlighting diversity, equity and inclusion at WVU Health Sciences.
October 2023: Unlock Your Strengths
/ Court Side
My talents are maximizer, adaptability, arranger, learner and relator. Do you know how to describe what you do best? Have you taken the CliftonStrengths® assessment? If not, you can email purpose@mail.wvu.edu to sign up! CliftonStrengths® helps you uncover your natural talents, and the Purpose Center provides additional services once you know your strengths, including one-on-one coaching and group workshops.
You may be wondering why I decided to discuss strengths; it’s because I believe it is the key to unlocking the potential of how we view each other and the benefits to diversity. When we are working with others, it’s easy to notice the ways we are different, and many times we view those differences as deficits. In reality, every difference can be much more valuable than we realize and leveraged in many ways. That is the key – how do you use your strengths to shine your light the brightest? The first step is figuring out your natural talents, then it’s time to put them into action. (I feel my maximizer showing here!)
I encourage you all to explore your strengths and stop by a pop-up event Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Pylons Commons to collect your top five CliftonStrengths® buttons and learn more about the Purpose Center.
Take care,
Court
/ Court Lanham, MSW
They/Them
Director of Diversity, WVU Health Sciences
Chancellor and Executive Dean’s Office
/ Share Your Thoughts
All students, faculty and staff are invited to share their opinions and suggestions for diversity, equity and inclusion at WVU Health Sciences. Your participation will help develop strategic initiatives and plan future efforts.
/ Upcoming Events
Diversity Cup
The College of Applied Human Sciences, in partnership with the Sport Management program, will celebrate the spirit of sport, friendship and inclusiveness by hosting the 7th Annual Diversity Cup four vs. four coed soccer tournament Oct. 14-15. Learn more.
Women Making History: Showcasing the West Virginia Feminist Activist Collection
A collaborative exhibit featuring sections written and curated by students and content from several collections that make up the West Virginia Feminist Activist Collection. WVU Professor Emerita Judith Stitzel and Jessie Wilkerson, associate professor of history, will deliver remarks at an event on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Downtown Library Milano Room. Learn more.
Visiting Artist Lecture: Winnie Sidharta
Reflecting on the idea that the body is a ‘living’ medium that participates in the cultivation of image, Sidharta draws heavily from family archives, oral storytelling and abstract morphologies of Indonesian landscapes and history. Lecture will take place Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. in the Canady Creative Arts Center Bloch Learning and Performance Hall. Learn more.
Campus Read Dinner Time Chat for Grad Students
Join fellow grad students for a casual evening of conversation and pizza to discuss themes from this year's WVU Campus Read, Transcendent Kingdom, on Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Mountainlair Rhododendron Room. Register online.
Silent Witness Exhibit
To help honor West Virginians murdered by acts of domestic violence, the exhibit displays a collection of life-sized silhouettes that represent West Virginians who can no longer speak for themselves. Exhibition open Oct.16-20 in Mountainlair Vandalia Lounge; Oct. 20-27 in Pylons Commons. Resource Expo will take place Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Mountainlair Vandalia Lounge. Learn more.
For the Culture Homecoming Tailgate and Fish Fry
Join the Center for Black Culture to celebrate in style with a day of fun, food and festivities on Oct. 21, three hours before kickoff, in the Gold Lot. Enjoy live music by a DJ, mouthwatering hot fried fish and more. Learn more.
Honoring Diversity Seminar: Ableism Disrupted
Join Lesley Cottrell, director of WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities, on Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. via Zoom to define ability and ableism, review and discuss examples of ableism from our daily lives, explore different perspectives of disability and bias and identify and discuss ways to interrupt ableism with resources, support and advocacy. Register online.
OutFront Series: LGBTQ+ Healthcare Past-Present-Future
Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Stef Shuster will be speaking about LGBTQ+ healthcare from the challenges people face to resources on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Presented by the LGBTQ+ Center. Learn more.
Safe Zone Training
Join the training on Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. via Zoom for information on sexual orientation histories and experiences associated with LGBTQ+ communities. Register online.
Honoring Diversity Seminar: Which Witch was Which: The European Witch Craze
Join Aaron Gale, associate professor of religious studies, on Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. via Zoom as he shares the origins of the European Witch Craze, explores who was accused of witchcraft and how those accused were arrested and tried. Register online.
Navigating a World of Privilege Through a Working-Class Lens
Join WVU alumna Chealsea Wierbonski on Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. in the Downtown Library Milano Room for an inspirational and honest discussion about her personal journey from first-generation college student to senior leader at Google. Learn more.
Grad Student and Faculty Hocus Pocus Night
Celebrate Halloween early with the LGBTQ+ Center watching Hocus Pocus and eating candy on Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. at Maple House. Registration required.
Halloween Party
All students are invited to dress up for this Halloween party on Oct. 28 from 2-5 p.m. at Maple House. Presented by the LGBTQ+ Center. Registration required.
Appalachian Writer of Color Series featuring Lisa Kwong
Poet Lisa Kwong, author of Becoming AppalAsian, is the 2023-2024 Appalachian Writer of Color Series reader for the Humanities Center’s Oct. 30 event at 7:30 p.m. in the Downtown Library Milano Reading Room. Learn more.
Trans Safe Zone Training
Join the training on Nov. 6 at 12 p.m. via Zoom for basic information about transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming people and communities, demographic information about the size of transgender populations in the U.S. and in West Virginia, and histories of transgender activism, as well as issues related to trans health care and transition, and trans-specific experiences with hate crimes and discrimination. Register online.
Honoring Diversity Seminar: Critical Conversations on Disabilities
Join Jeanette Garcia, associate professor of sport and exercise psychology, on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. via Zoom to identify the role and importance in building inclusive communities. Register online.
Kahoot! Game Day
All students are invited to join the LGBTQ+ Center to play a variety of Kahoot! Games on Nov. 10 from 12:30-2 p.m. at Maple House.
OutFront Series: LGBTQ+ Politics and Policy
James Conlon and TJ Chang will discuss how to make positive change for LGBTQ+ communities in politics and policy on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Presented by the LGBTQ+ Center. Learn more.
Audiology Screenings
The West Virginia University School of Medicine Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders will offer free audiology screenings to the public on the first or second Friday of each month through the remainder of 2023. Learn more.
LGBTQ+ Book Club
This book club focuses on one piece of LBGTQIA2+ literature each semester to allow you to read for pleasure at a reasonable pace. Engage in conversations surrounding mental health as it relates to the literature and building connection with one another. The group meets once a month at 4 p.m. in the Student Health Building Room 101. Learn more and register online.
Shabbat Dinners
The Rohr Chabad Jewish Center hosts weekly Shabbat dinners for all Jewish students. Learn more.
For more events, visit cal.wvu.edu.
/ News & Announcements
New grant to increase health disparities training for WVU medical learners
Patient groups who are often underrepresented in healthcare will benefit from increased health disparities training for medical students and residents at the WVU School of Medicine. Learn more.
Athletic Training student conducts research at Special Olympics World Games in Berlin
This summer, athletes and Unified partners from 190 countries converged in Berlin, Germany to compete at the Special Olympics World Games. The athletes were supported by coaches, volunteers, providers and researchers – including Ryan James, a current student in the Master of Science in Athletic Training program at the WVU School of Medicine. Learn more.
Ultrasound equipment donations to support rural telehealth, education for nursing students
Through two donations from Ultrasound Solutions Corp., the WVU School of Nursing’s Faith Community Nursing initiative will be able to further support rural telehealth efforts in southern West Virginia and nursing students will have access to innovative ultrasound technology. Learn more.
WVU awarded Million Hearts® funding to improve rural health outcomes
To improve cardiovascular health in the Mountain State, the WVU School of Pharmacy and WVU Heart and Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure Program were selected to receive a Million Hearts® Health Equity Implementation $50,000 award from the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. Lean more.
Participation in global organization prepares WVU student for career in medicine
A WVU School of Medicine student is helping address health challenges and improving well-being through education, research, service and advocacy as a Consortium of Universities for Global Health Trainee Advisory Committee member. Learn more.