by Cindy Abole
Public Relations

Maternal fetal medicine specialist and University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Medicine Dean E. Albert Reece, M.D., Ph.D., stressed the importance of diversity in medicine and the potential advantages that a diverse workforce can bring to achieve economic and professional success at the College of Medicine Dean's Diversity Colloquium.

The colloquium was held April 24 at MUSC's Drug Discovery Building auditorium. Reece, who is the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and a professor in the departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medicine, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, was the invited guest of MUSC medicine colleagues and Deborah Deas, M.D., senior associate dean for medical education, College of Medicine (COM) and chair of the college's diversity committee.

Dean's diversity speaker Dr. Albert Reece (left) joins College of Medicine Dean Dr. Etta D. Pisano and MUSC's chief of plastic surgery Dr. Milton Armstrong following the April 24 address.

In his keynote address, Reece defined diversity to be fundamental in nature from its presence in human genetics to differences found in a person's ethnicity, age and beliefs. He spoke about how diversity and excellence complement each other in producing better outcomes in medical education and the workforce. To Reece, diversity at all levels should be seen as a catalyst to achieve excellence.

"I see diversity as a fabric of our environment. It is an enhancer to achieving an ultimate goal that can make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities as it relates to health and managing disease. Commitment, engagement, promotion and practice are qualities of successful diversity programs."

He also gave an overview of the diversity profile at the University of Maryland's School of Medicine and compared that with his school's student academic and research achievement profile and shared steps and ideas that programs can take to achieve and maintain diversity in their own practice and work environment.

Earlier in the day, Reece met with COM faculty, medical students and members of the COM Diversity Committee to discuss diversity strategies. He reminded these groups that they should be proud of their efforts and the progress that has been made and that MUSC is regarded as one of leading institutions in the country for its diversity accomplishments.

"MUSC has a strong track record in diversity education and practice. What's particularly impressive is the commitment of institutional leadership from top leadership to deans, senior and associate deans to faculty. It's most impressive."

Originally from Jamaica, West Indies, Reece received his undergraduate degree from Long Island University, medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, doctorate in biochemistry from the University of the West Indies and an MBA degree from Temple University. An accomplished clinician and active researcher with an emphasis on diabetes in pregnancy, birth defects and prenatal diagnosis, Reece has held leadership positions at Temple University and the University of Arkansas College of Medicine before joining the University of Maryland in 2006.

On a national level, Reece was chair of the Committee on the Opportunity to Address Clinical Research and Workforce Diversity Needs – Division of Policy and Global Affairs, NRC and National Academies in 2010. And since 2007, he has served on the Academic Institute Leader's Group for the Institute of the Advancement of Multicultural and Minority Medicine.