July 20. 2011
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Page 21
Diversity Wall
Fosters Equity
The His ¡tory of
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The progressive history o f breaking color barriers at Oregon Health Sciences University is celebrated in a new
History o f Diversity wall panel located in OHSU Kohler Pavilion next to the Portland Aerial Tram.
n -"5"”
A history o f diversity panel at OHSU tells about
Marian Pang, one o f the first nurses o f color at
the teaching hospital. She graduated from the
school o f nursing in 1934.
OHSU panels tell stories of struggle, accomplishments
Passengers traveling to and from the
Portland Aerial Tram will notice a major
addition to Oregon H ealth Science
University’s Kohler Pavilion with the ad­
dition of a new diversity wall.
The wall chronicles significant events
in OHSU's history that recognize diversity
within the university's workforce. The wall
also highlights major diversity milestones
in the United States.
Dr. Norwood Knight-Richardson, vice
president and chief administrative officer
at OHSU said the wall panels are a way to
observe OHSU’s past milestones in be­
coming an organization that values diver­
sity on several levels.
"OHSU is committed to being a diverse •
organization," Knight-Richardson said
"These milestones include the many firsts
that helped transform the makeup of
OHSU's workforce. In addition, because
we are an academic institution, we also,
celebrate the diversity of ideas that are
generated by an organization that seeks to
be inclusive."
Leslie Garcia, OHSU's assistant pro­
vost for diversity, said "Diversity fosters
innovation and builds a vibrant environ­
ment promoting creativity and new ways
to fulfill OHSU's mission of healing, teach­
ing, discovery and community service."
The wall and portraits are in close prox­
imity to OHSU's historical wall. Both of
these displays will greet visitors as they
travel to and from OHSU via the Portland
Aerial Tram.
Historical photos and information for
the OHSU Diversity Wall came from
One o f the individuals featured in a new panel on diversity at OHSU shows Dr.
Clarence Pruitt, (left) the first African American to graduate from the Oregon Dental
School.
OHSU's library and other sources. The
wall was proposed and planned by OHSU's
Diversity Advisory Council.
The new wall was unveiled June 29
along with the portraits of two people who
played crucial roles in expanding Oregon's
diversity: OHSU's Dr. Clarence Pruitt and
Jean M. Richardson.
Pruitt was the first African-American to
graduate from the University of Oregon
Dental School in 1949. In 1957, he was
refused office space in Portland's Medical
Arts Building because of his race. He
subsequently became the first African-
American to establish a successful dental
practice in the Selling Building.
As a response to this discrimination,
the Portland District Dental Society
adopted a resolution condemning any
building owners who would refuse to rent
office space based on an applicant's race,
religion or national origin.
Pruitt went on to become the first Afri­
can-American part-time faculty member in
the School of Dentistry, working closely
with Dean Louis T erkla and Keith
Claycomb in the recruitment of minority
students to the School of Dentistry.
Richardson graduated from Oregon
State University in 1949 with a degree in
civil engineering. She persevered through
discrimination at school and at work and
paved the way for women in a field largely
dominated by men.
She began working pro bono for an
Alabama engineering company until her
employer deemed her work competent. Jean
went on to own her own company and
became the first woman to head mainte­
nance engineering for the City of Port­
land.
The diversity wall also pays tribute to
programs that foster advancements for
disadvantaged populations.
The Intercultural Psychiatric Program
was developed by Dr. J. David Kinzie in
1977 to provide culturally sensitive men­
tal health services to immigrant and refu­
gee communities.
The Avel Gordly Center for Healing is a
program of the Department of Psychiatry.
The center meets the mental health needs
of the diverse communities of Oregon,
with special focus on African-Americans.
continued
on page 23