Messages from Leadership

Message from the Dean

Bruce T. Liang, M.D., FACC

Welcome to the Office of Multicultural and Community Affairs.

As the Dean of UConn School of Medicine it brings me no greater joy to help create a family-like, inclusive atmosphere at our academic institution of higher learning.

Fostering a culture of respect, access, and opportunity across all dimensions of our academic community is personally important to me, and I know as well to our University of Connecticut leaders. This is an integral part of our mission as an academic entity training the next generation of health care leaders, medical students, residents, fellows, and researchers.

Each day, the varied backgrounds, experiences, and strengths of our community contribute significantly to our institution’s success. Broad representation and equitable opportunity are essential to our continued advancement in medical education, clinical care, and scientific research—now and into the future.

Just to share a few examples of our notable accomplishments, our medical school was named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 10 most diverse medical schools in the nation. Also, nearly 23% of our student body and a higher than national average percentage of our resident and specialty fellow physicians hail from underrepresented groups in medicine. We also couldn’t be prouder to be leading the way forward nationally in greater diversity in medicine.

We’re all here to help each other succeed. By working collaboratively, we can strengthen our commitment to access, representation, and excellence across our programs through active engagement with OMCA and its initiatives.

Sincerely,

Bruce T. Liang, M.D.
Dean, UConn School of Medicine

Welcome from the Associate Dean

Linda K. Barry, M.D., MPH, FACS

As the Associate Dean of the Office of Multicultural and Community Affairs (OMCA), I want to welcome you to UConn School of Medicine.

Our office is committed to creating an environment where all students, faculty, staff, and patients can thrive through equitable access to resources, support, and opportunities.

OMCA supports a wide range of initiatives that promote participation and leadership development across the institution. These efforts reflect our mission to cultivate a learning community enriched by a variety of lived experiences and perspectives.

This website provides an overview of our initiatives and serves as a resource for those seeking to connect with OMCA’s work in academic, clinical, and community settings.

At UConn School of Medicine, every individual is a valued contributor to the success of our mission. Together, we are building a culture of excellence grounded in collaboration, fairness, and shared commitment.

We aim to celebrate and uplift the voices of the UConn School of Medicine community. Every member of UConn School of Medicine is valued, adding to the rich mosaic that has created this innovative environment of learning, research, and health care delivery.

For more information about the Office of Multicultural and Community Affairs, our programming, or UConn School of Medicine, feel free to contact us at omca@uchc.edu.

Sincerely,

Linda Barry, M.D., MPH, FACS

Associate Dean, Office of Multicultural and Community Affairs
Associate Director, UConn Health Disparities Institute
Professor, Departments of Surgery and Public Health Sciences
UConn School of Medicine

Message from the Associate Dean

David D. Henderson, M.D.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are foundational heuristics within the Office of Multicultural and Community Affairs at UConn School of Medicine.

These principles inform the goals and objectives as well as all the activities in which the Office engages.

Our overarching goal is to create a learning and working environment that is conducive to the success of everyone in our institution.

Mutual respect, advocacy, and social justice inform our core values. The Office works to provide support and education to promote these values to make UConn School of Medicine is a welcoming and enriching space for all who cross our threshold, and by their diverse presence enrich us in turn.

Sincerely,

David H. Henderson, M.D.
Associate Dean, Office of Multicultural and Community Affairs
Professor of Family Medicine
Chair, Department of Family Medicine
UConn School of Medicine