Regardless of where you do your residency, you’ll need someone who has your back. That would be me.
Gina Walton, MD
(She/Her/Hers)
VICE PRESIDENT, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, GRADUATE MEDICAL
EDUCATION ASSOCIATE DESIGNATED INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIAL ATTENDING PHYSIATRIST, PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION
Gina.walton@sinai.org
On my journey to becoming a physician — and still today — I’ve often been the only Black person in the room, the only woman in the room, la única que habla español — the only one who speaks Spanish.
This is unfortunately the case for many medical trainees and physicians of color in this country. Yet, people’s lives in our communities literally depend on having more physicians of color treating them. Research shows that when physicians and patients share the same ethnicity, this improves maternal health outcomes during childbirth, management of pain, patient medication adherence, routine health screenings, and many other components of quality healthcare.
Of course, we put out a statement after George Floyd’s murder, just like everyone else. When COVID hit our communities hard, we even held town hall meetings asking to hear the voices of our staff and communities regarding racism and health inequities.
It’s time to save more lives and give new life!
Our vision is to curate Sinai residency programs to be the model for urban residency programs in underserved communities across the United States.
Our goal is to build a medical residency program that reflects who we are, especially since people of color are disproportionately affected by healthcare disparities. Plus, people of color have been historically excluded from medical training. Only about 5% of physicians in the U.S. are Black and just under 6% are Hispanic, although these groups make up approximately 40% of the U.S. population.
As a Black woman, and a Spanish-speaking physician who has worked in private practice, large academic hospitals, and for the U.S. government, I can sincerely say that Sinai feels more like home than any other place that I have worked.
Sinai’s top hospital leadership is engaged and supportive of this new commitment to our patients and residents. We will recruit, retain, and promote physicians of color and other physicians who have values and experiences that are relatable to the community we treat and care for each day.
Sinai Chicago physicians discuss the important of the relationship between Black doctors and Black patients, the persistent health inequities among Black Americans, and what it means to be a Black doctor in Chicago.
Gina Walton, MD
(She/Her/Hers)
VP Diversity & Inclusion, Graduate Medical Education
Associate Designated Institutional Official
Attending Physiatrist, PM&R
Sinai Community Institute (SCI) has a history of developing effective community-based health and social service programs to improve the health and well-being of our community.
Sinai Urban Health Institute works to achieve health equity among communities through excellence and innovation in data-driven research, interventions, evaluation, and collaboration.
Dr Walton, I just want you to know that I felt every word you wrote to my core. From being black and female and the incredible yet subtle racism it brings, to promising a platform for our voice as females, as women of colour to be heard and not hushed, I’m genuinely moved. I can tell just by reading your statement that you mean every word. Your promise to never neutralise who we are made me realise all the times I would just easily give up on my worth to please a program, thank you for reminding me of my own worth! Sinai is now one of my top choices, solely based on what you wrote. Thank you for your words.
Dr. Walton, I am not a part of this community yet, but I am really impressed about your vision and dedication. You are inspiring others! Looking forward to joining you!
Dr. Walton- I love the commitment. Great work. Our community will greatly appreciate this.
Dr. Walton,
As applicant for the 2022 Cycle, this is everything I needed to hear. The first step is recognizing there is a problem. Actions, will always speak louder than words on a page when addressing DEI. I see the action, hopefully this will be a guiding light to other urban residency programs to take a hard look in the mirror at the diversity they are reflecting. You are really doing amazing work!
I absolutely agree! It is wonderful to see that under represented communities are being spoken for! In professional settings such as medicine, something as “minute” as cultural diversity is often overlooked. But when patients can relate to their physicians, quality of care can go much further. Sharing a common ground can be especially beneficial.
Love the commitment to DEI I’m seeing at Sinai!
Doctora Walton, es un placer en conocerte! As a current applicant for this 2022 residency cycle, these words are encouraging. DEI is a labor of love, with emphasis on labor. Glad to see the initial steps that will translate into amazing outcomes .
Dr. Walton – you are doing great work! Sinai Chicago’s commitment to diversity and inclusion shows that we are a diverse and inclusive community of passionate people who are working hard to make a difference in the quality of healthcare for our patients… and this work has just begun.