About Us
September 2026 - Inclusive Excellence
Be Part of the Change: Join Us in Advancing Inclusive Excellence
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PLM) remains deeply committed to advancing Inclusive Excellence (IE) across every facet of our work.
As we begin FY27, we are excited to build on the progress of the past year and expand opportunities for faculty, staff, trainees, and students to participate in initiatives that strengthen our department, improve the experiences of our patients and colleagues, and serve our broader communities.
Welcoming Our New Inclusive Excellence Co-Chairs
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Donald Doanman as our new Trainee Co-Chair and Ron Gonzalez as our new Staff Co-Chair of the Inclusive Excellence Program. They join Faculty Vice-Chairs Dr. Israa Laklouk and Dr. Rebecca Sosa in guiding the program’s priorities and initiatives for the year ahead.
As Trainee Co-Chair, Dr. Donaman will bring the perspectives and experiences of our trainees to the program, strengthen trainee engagement, identify opportunities for collaboration, and support an inclusive and welcoming learning environment across the department.
Ron brings more than 21 years of experience at UCLA. Throughout his career, he has championed operational excellence, employee development, and community engagement. As Staff Co-Chair, he will strengthen staff representation and engagement within the program and help ensure that staff perspectives inform our priorities and initiatives.
We also extend our sincere appreciation to Toshiko Ching and Dr. Cody Forsyth for their leadership and contributions as Staff and Trainee Co-Chairs, respectively. Their dedication and service have helped advance Inclusive Excellence and strengthen engagement throughout our department.
Upcoming Events
Inclusive Excellence Book Club
Building on the success of our previous cross-departmental Book Club Collaboration, the Inclusive Excellence program is once again partnering with the Department of Pediatrics to create opportunities for thoughtful discussion, shared learning, and connection across our departments.
Our upcoming three-part series will focus on trauma-informed healthcare through guided discussions on What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce D. Perry. Healthcare work is deeply meaningful, but it can also be emotionally demanding. Together we will explore how trauma can affect our patients, our colleagues, and ourselves – and consider practical ways to foster compassionate, supportive, and psychologically safe healthcare environments.
The series will be moderated by Dr. Carrie Butler from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Dr. Juan Alejos from the Department of Pediatrics. The opening session will begin with welcoming remarks from the chairs of both departments and will feature Moira Szilagyi, MD, PhD, FAAP, professor of pediatrics at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and a nationally recognized expert in childhood trauma, resilience, and trauma-informed pediatric care. Dr. Szilagyi will share her experience and insights on applying trauma-informed principles across healthcare settings.
We gratefully acknowledge the Inclusive Excellence Book Club subcommittees from both departments for developing this collaborative series: Nydia Flores and Dr. Christine Thang from Pediatrics, and Dr. Rebecca Sosa, Dr. Donald Doanman, and Ron Gonzalez from Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
Meeting Details
- Session 1: Wednesday, September 9th at 12:00 pm
- Location: Hybrid In-Person/ Zoom - Ronald Reagan Medical Center, Room 5265 (Pennington Conference Room)
- Session 2: Wednesday, October 14th at 12:00 pm
- Location: Zoom
- Session 3: Wednesday, November 18th at 12 pm
- Location: Zoom
All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Be Part of the Work – Join the Inclusive Excellence Committee
Inclusive Excellence is strengthened by the perspectives, experiences, and participation of our entire department. Faculty, staff, trainees, and students are invited to participate in the IE General Committee and contribute to initiatives throughout the year.
Whether you’re interested in shaping new initiatives, supporting existing efforts, or simply learning more, your participation is welcomed and valued.
FY27 Inclusive Excellence General Committee Meeting Dates:
- Wednesday, August 26th, 2026 at 12 pm
- Wednesday, December 2nd, 2026 at 12 pm
- Wednesday, April 21st, 2027 at 12 pm
If you are interested in participating in the General Committee meetings and/or would like to be added to the IE listserv, please complete the brief questionnaire, here.
Featured Initiative: Inclusive Excellence Plan in Action
Turner-UCLA Internship Collaboration – Summer 2026
This summer, the Inclusive Excellence Program continued its commitment to community engagement and career pathway development through our collaboration with the Turner-UCLA Allied Health Internship Program.
Through this partnership, 86 students had the opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to the diverse careers available within Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Department faculty and staff helped bring these careers to life by sharing their professional experiences, introducing students to different areas of pathology and laboratory medicine, and providing opportunities for students to learn more about the education, training, and skills required to pursue careers in the field.
The Turner-UCLA collaboration reflects an important goal of our Inclusive Excellence Plan: building meaningful partnerships that expand awareness of and access to careers in healthcare and laboratory medicine. Early exposure, mentorship, and hands-on learning can help students envision themselves in these professions and better understand the many pathways available to them.
We are grateful to our departmental colleagues in the Blood and Platelet Center, Clinical Lab Science, Cytology, Immunogenetics, Surgical Pathology, and Turner-UCLA partners who helped make this year’s internship experience possible and look forward to continuing to strengthen opportunities for students to explore, learn, and envision their future in healthcare.
Mini Pathologist PlayLab
Immunogenetics
Clinical Lab Science
Cytology
Surgical Pathology
Blood & Platelet Center
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Mini Pathologist’s PlayLab
Building on the success of the Mini Pathologist’s PlayLab (MPP), the Inclusive Excellence Program is looking for opportunities to expand this engaging outreach initiative to additional schools and communities throughout the greater Los Angeles area and beyond.
The Mini Pathologist's PlayLab introduces students to the world of pathology and laboratory medicine through interactive, hands-on activities that make laboratory science approachable, engaging, and fun. Through activities such as examining parasite specimens, exploring bacterial growth on agar plates, and learning about urinalysis and other diagnostic techniques, students gain firsthand exposure to the important role laboratory professionals play in healthcare.
As we move into FY27, our goal is to build upon the existing PlayLab model and bring these experiences directly to more students at local schools, particularly those who may have limited exposure to careers in pathology, laboratory medicine, and the broader healthcare field. By expanding our school partnerships, we hope to increase awareness of the many career pathways available within our field and inspire students to envision themselves pursuing futures in science and healthcare.
Expanding the PlayLab will also create new opportunities for faculty, staff, trainees, and students across our department to serve as volunteers and mentors, share their own career journeys, and help make laboratory medicine more visible and accessible to the next generation.
We look forward to strengthening our community partnership and growing the PlayLab into a sustainable outreach program that can reach more schools, students, and future healthcare professionals throughout our community.
UCLA Pathology Grand Rounds Inclusive Series
The Inclusive Excellence Grand Rounds Lecture Series will continue in FY27, bringing speakers and perspectives to the department that encourage learning, discussion, and new approaches to advancing Inclusive Excellence in pathology and laboratory medicine.
FY27 speakers and dates:
- Friday, September 11th, 2026 at 12:00 pm (In-person and via Zoom) – Dr. Omai Garner
- Friday, January 8th, 2027 at 12:00 pm (via Zoom) – Dr. Terrence Keel
- Friday, March 26th, 2027 at 12:00 pm (via Zoom) – Dr. Jessica Harding
Meet Our Inclusive Excellence Leaders
Our work is led by a dedicated team of Co-Chairs and Program Manager who bring diverse perspectives and expertise from across the department. They are passionate advocates for Inclusive Excellence and are continuously striving to develop and achieve goals that will ultimately improve patient outcomes, expand awareness of Pathology among learners of all ages and introduce students to career options in our labs.
Learn more about our IE leaders and their contributions by visiting the Inclusive Excellence Website.
Sarah M. Dry, MD
Chair, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine