Student Diversity Council

The Student Diversity Council (SDC) is one of the two governing councils of the University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS). Through education, outreach, and activism, the SDC addresses issues involving diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice (DEIAJ) at UMMS and Michigan Medicine.

The SDC is committed to supporting the cultivation of a safe and inclusive culture and environment for all students, especially those who identify as a member of a historically marginalized group — including Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and pansexual/polyamorous (LGBTQIAP+) communities. We do this by:

• Responding swiftly and competently to acts of bias, prejudice, discrimination, racism, or other threats that may target these communities.
• Ensuring accountability for the continued progress of DEIAJ initiatives at UMMS.
• Fostering an environment of inclusion, collaboration, and the sharing of best practices, resources, and knowledge to work effectively towards these goals.

These values anchor the council’s mission and purpose. Your support is critical to ensuring the sustainability of the SDC's advocacy for organizations and student initiatives related to DEIAJ within UMMS and issues related to health disparities in health care and health education. Your Giving Blueday donation will permit the continuation of the following projects:

1. Through the education committee, a health disparities curriculum across various specialties has been developed to enhance each medical student’s DEIAJ learning during medical school, and an increased emphasis on showcasing patient stories from all backgrounds is currently taking place.
2. Through the activism committee, a moving stipend was created to address some of the upfront and hidden expenses of moving, including security deposits, travel costs, and furniture, which students may incur prior to loan disbursement. This stipend is open to all incoming M1s (Class of 2027) with maximum funding up to $1,500.
3. Through the outreach committee, a wellness mini-grant program was created to address the immediate gaps in the wellbeing needs of students, and a student and faculty mentorship program to help foster earlier meaningful relationships with a focus on discussing DEIAJ-related topics.