Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee: An Instrument to Champion Diversity Efforts Within a Large Academic Psychiatry Department

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become increasingly recognized as essential to the practice of high-quality patient care delivery and the support of members of the clinical environment. A solid under -standing of DEI contributes to a better grasp of what drives health care disparities and yields improved clinical outcomes for minority populations. This column dis-cusses how individuals can practically promote DEI by describing the design and implementation of DEI in an academic psychiatry department. The authors highlight the powerful role of departmental initiatives in esta-blishing best practices for DEI and lessons learned through the work of the psychiatry department's DEI committee. Psychiatric Services 2022; 73:223-226; doi:10.1176/appi.ps.202000934

Automated summary

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are crucial for high-quality patient care and support within the clinical environment, leading to improved clinical outcomes for minority populations. This article discusses the design and implementation of DEI in an academic psychiatry department, highlighting the role of departmental initiatives and lessons learned from the DEI committee's work.