Recognizing employees who have produced high-impact results and shown a sustained commitment to advancing issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) presented one faculty member and one staff member at each campus location with the annual Employee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award at a cross-campus ceremony on October 25.
In Philadelphia, the employee DEI award for faculty was presented to Catchy Hatcher, PhD, director of the Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences and associate professor of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology. Dr. Hatcher is also the faculty advisor for the PCOM chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and a mentor to many students. Dr. Hatcher was recognized, in part, for her assistance with the design, implementation and assessment of the curriculum and the DEI initiatives housed within.
The employee DEI award for staff in Philadelphia went to Estelle Redding, Director of ITS Service Delivery. Redding has served as the chair of SOAR, an informal colleague resource group to support Black staff members. As chair, she organized a career management panel for employees on all three campus locations and has taken lessons learned in her professional development and facilitated diversity, equity, and inclusion exercises for the ITS team.
At PCOM Georgia, the DEI award for faculty was presented to Shari Allen, PharmD, BCPP, associate professor of pharmacy. Dr. Allen serves as the Faculty Coordinator for
the PCOM Georgia Opportunities Academy. In her nomination, PCOM Georgia students shared that Dr. Allen “creates an environment
where minority students can shine and fosters a safe space for students to learn and
grow.”
The DEI award for staff went to Hannah Zepplin, CFSP, LFD, LE, anatomical coordinator
in the Department of Anatomy. Zepplin has taken lessons learned in her professional development to create an open
environment in the Anatomy Lab for students of color and/or different religious backgrounds
to feel comfortable to ask questions and feel that they are respected and valued in
the lab and on campus.
In South Georgia, the DEI award for faculty went to Matthew Shelnutt, DO '17, assistant professor of NMM/OMM. Dr. Shelnutt is chair of the LGBTQIA+ Council and PCOM SGA Diversity Council. He has facilitated a number of training opportunities for the PCOM community, including PCOM Safe Space and lectures on gender-affirming care, pronouns and working with non-binary patients.
The staff award in South Georgia went to Katresa Gardner, public services librarian.
Gardner created the Skin of Color resource guide which provides resources that include
images of patients with skin of color in order to increase representation and improve
treatment of patients with skin of color. The guide received 250 visitors in August.
Gardner also presented at the Joint Council of Librarians of Color conference on the
lack of representation of skin of color in medical education.
This award aligns with PCOM 2025: Path to Greater Excellence Plan goals for diversity, equity and inclusion. This goal aims to embed diversity, equity and inclusion in its curriculum, policies, processes and practices to advance student, faculty and staff performance and excellence in service to communities.
Learn more about the College's Office of Diversity and Community Relations.
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
Brandon Lausch
Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6312 | Cell:
717-371-0609
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