Dear Members of the HMS Community:

On Wednesday evening, I participated in an important and timely panel discussion on anti-racism, equity, and social justice. The event was part of the Black History Month event series sponsored by the HMS Center for Bioethics and the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care.

The discussion included luminaries Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine and an HMS alumna; Louis W. Sullivan, president emeritus of Morehouse School of Medicine and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Joan Y. Reede, HMS dean for diversity and community partnership, who was our moderator. Together, we had an uplifting conversation about our experiences and values, our mentors and role models, and our work to create change that enables all in our communities to thrive.

We also addressed the racist incidents that have taken place over the past few days and weeks across our country and in our backyards. Bomb threats have again threatened and disrupted historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Books about the Holocaust are being banned. Racist incidents are being reported on college campuses. Self-proclaimed neo-Nazis have engaged in attacks and demonstrations, including singling out HMS faculty members who have worked to uncover and correct critical health disparities. And the list goes on.

We must condemn these heinous acts. Racism in any form is unacceptable. Our HMS mission, community values, and diversity statement, together with our anti-racism initiatives and Better Together plan, signify our resolute commitment to inclusive excellence, collaboration, and mutual respect.

It bears repeating that all members of our community deserve to feel safe at work, at home, and everywhere in between. If you are feeling unsafe or seeking support, please do not hesitate to access the resources outlined below.

In closing, I want to share an excerpt from Dr. Montgomery Rice’s remarks as she reflected on the recent bomb threats targeted at HBCUs:

“Someone asked me today if am I fearful. Fear is just a call to exercise courage. I tell our students and faculty that now is time to stand still and stand tall. Now is our time to demonstrate what it means to be an advocate and a champion of health equity. No one said that path would be easy.”

Please take care of yourselves and take care of each other. We truly are better together.

Sincerely,

George Q. Daley
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Harvard University

Resources for the HMS Community

• Harvard’s anonymous hotline is available 24/7 to report a range of concerns, including harassment and other threats to personal safety and well-being. Operated by an independent, third-party provider, the hotline is accessible 24/7 by calling 877-694-2275 or by submitting a report online.
  
• If you are concerned for your safety, call the Harvard University Police Department at 617-495-1212 (Cambridge/Allston) or 617-432-1212 (Longwood). The HUPD takes hate crimes seriously, and any acts or threats of violence, harassment, or intimidation may be reported directly to the department.
  
• The HMS Security and Campus Safety team offers both walking and taxi escort services. Walking escort services are available 24 hours a day by calling 617-432-1379 at least 15 minutes ahead of your departure time. A security officer will escort you anywhere on campus or to the nearest MBTA stop. Taxi escort services are available daily from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. from the NRB security desk at 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur. This service is free to a single destination within a one-mile radius for up to four people. Click here for further details on available services.
  
• Blue light emergency phones are available at 41 locations throughout the Longwood and Cambridge campuses. When you push the button on any of these call boxes, you will be connected directly to HUPD dispatch.
  
• Counseling and Mental Health Services provides care exclusively to students in the form of individual remote visits and group therapy, no matter where you may be living during the pandemic. Check out the many virtual workshops and groups here.
  
• The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides free, confidential help for all Harvard employees, postdocs, and their adult household members. You can reach the EAP at any time for personal or work-related concerns at 877-EAP-HARV (877-327-4278) or by visiting the EAP website.
  
• The Ombuds Office helps all members of the HMS, HSDM, and Harvard Chan School community address issues affecting their work or studies, including bias in its many forms. The Ombuds Office is independent by design and provides highly confidential, impartial, and informal support for clarifying concerns, identifying goals, and considering all options for managing or resolving issues. Services include conflict coaching; informal mediation; education about resources and policies; bringing systemic trends and issues to leadership; and training on topics including negotiation and conflict management, authorship best practices, and difficult conversations.
  
• The University Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging offers community care resources, including Affinity Spaces, a series of open conversations where Harvard community members can connect with others who share their identities.
  
• The HMS Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership has compiled a list of anti-racism resources.