Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

EDI Committee Objectives

UCLA's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) leads and advances strategies for enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion; protecting civil rights; and upholding dignity for all in our community. We seek to foster open-mindedness, understanding, compassion and inclusiveness among individuals and groups. We are committed to ensuring freedom of expression and dialogue. We value differences as well as commonalities and promote respect in personal interactions. We do not tolerate acts of discrimination, harassment or conduct causing harm to individuals on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, religious beliefs, political preference, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship or national origin.

Conduct department-wide EDI survey using the survey tool developed by the David Geffen School of Medicine to understand EDI climate, needs, and opportunities with the goal of developing an action plan based on the results. Implement the action plan and re-survey the department to confirm improvements..
Establish a Visiting Student Scholarship for medical students who demonstrate an interest in fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare professions, in advancing efforts to reduce healthcare inequities, and in the pursuit of social justice.
Develop and support Adaptive Sports Medicine Program with recreational and competitive components for athletes admitted to UCLA and UCLA undergraduate student athletes. The program aims to start by supporting wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball. The program’s long-term goal is to support UCLA adaptive sports teams.
Incorporate EDI topics into Grand Rounds.

Committee Members

Sharon L. Hame, MD

Committee Chair

Elizabeth L. Lord, MD

Committee Member

Adam A. Sassoon, MD, MS

Committee Member

Aurelia Nattiv, MD

Committee Member

Kristofer J. Jones, MD

Committee Member

Rishi Trikha, MD

Committee Member

Fabrizio Billi, PhD

Committee Member

Feranmi Okanlami, MD

Committee Member

Jennifer Kallini, MD

Committee Member

Marie Dyer

Administrative Support

Visiting Student Scholarship

The UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery strives to foster a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion for faculty, staff, fellows, residents, medical students, and patients. The Visiting Student Scholarship provides financial support for up to two medical students who have applied for the UCLA Orthopaedic Surgery Sub-Internship and have completed the required scholarship application. The scholarship is open to all medical students.

Applications for the academic year open on April 1, 2025.

2024 Visiting Student Scholarship Recipients

EDI Events

MLK I Have a Dream in STEM | February 2025

Our faculty, residents and medical students taught middle school students about bones, fractures, placing screws and making splints. This was an ortho and pathology and dentistry event.