Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Engaging with the world through a JEDI lens demonstrates how we value people in general. It is not only about our members feeling respected, but also about our patients feeling understood and safe.
What is JEDI?
Justice - Identifying and removing barriers that prevent diversity, equity, and inclusion of difference. Making fair and ethical decisions about the distribution of opportunities and resources through interpersonal and institutional engagement.
(Resource: searle.northwestern.edu/focus-areas/deij/defining-deij.html)
Equity - Being fair and impartial as an individual engages with an organization or system. Involves taking account of policies, initiatives, and practices and taking action to address (dis)advantages based on difference. Often confused with "equality," equity implies that an individual may need to experience or receive something different (not equal to or the same as something or someone else) to maintain fairness and access. Everyone has a fair opportunity to attain their full potential.
(Resources: brandeis.edu/diversity/about/definitions.html; aafp.org/membership/initiatives/diversity-equity-and-inclusion.html; and searle.northwestern.edu/focus-areas/deij/defining-deij.html)
Diversity - Differences of people with respect to, but not limited by, race; ethnicity; color; religion; background; national or geographic origin; age; gender, gender identity or expression; socioeconomic status; language; sexual orientation; (dis)ability status; education; thoughts; political perspective; and skills, among others.
(Resources: diversity.umich.edu/about/defining-dei and aafp.org/membership/initiatives/diversity-equity-and-inclusion.html)
Inclusion - Deliberately and authentically welcoming and valuing differences. Different perspectives are respectfully heard and brought into all into processes, activities, leadership and opportunities, and decision/policy making. Every individual feels a sense of belonging and has the opportunity to participate.
(Resources: diversity.umich.edu/about/defining-dei; racialequitytools.org/glossary; aafp.org/membership/initiatives/diversty-equity-and-inclusion.html)
Rupali Das, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Rupali Das, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Board Chair
The Zenith Insurance Company
Dublin, CA
Dr. Rupali Das is Senior Vice President and California Medical Director at Zenith Insurance Company and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Previously, she served as the Executive Medical Director of the California Division of Workers' Compensation, Department of Industrial Relations. She is Chair of WOEMA's JEDI Committee, and past chair of the legislative and educational committees. Dr. Das was in clinical practice in Occupational Medicine at the Palo Alto Medical Clinic and has held various leadership roles in occupational and environmental health at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the California EPA. At CDPH she directed programs to track and reduce pesticide illness and infectious diseases in underserved populations such as farm workers, guided emergency preparedness. She also led "Biomonitoring California," a collaborative program with CDC and other state agencies, that measures levels of environmental chemicals in peoples' bodies. She received her MD degree from the University of Illinois, Chicago, completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, and a fellowship in Occupational and Environmental Medicine at UCSF. She earned a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine/Occupational Medicine, is a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and is a member of the ACOEM Racism Workgroup. She mentors high-achieving students from underserved communities as part of the Thrive Scholars program. She is also a patron of the arts and is a Trustee for Cal Performances.
Alya Khan, MD, MS, FACOEM
Alya Khan, MD, MS, FACOEM
Second Vice President
UC Irvine
Irvine, CA
Dr. Alya Khan is the Program Director for the Occupational Medicine Residency and Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine from Hackensack UMC Mountainside and Occupational Medicine from University of California, Irvine, and holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Preventive Medicine. In addition, she holds a Master's degree in Environmental Toxicology from the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Khan was a prior co-chair for the WOEMA education committee. She served as Vice-Chair for WOHC 2021 and is the Chair for WOHC 2022. She is a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Vice-Chair for ACOEM's Council of Education and Academic Affairs, and Chair for the Occupational Medicine Residency Directors' Association. Dr. Khan's clinical work is at the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health which provides clinical and preventive services to local and regional employers, conducts worksite surveillance programs, as well as provides toxicology consultations. She is the chair of the UCI-COEH symposium and a member of M-POWER committee (Medical Professionalism and Optimal Wellness Education and Resource) at UC Irvine. Her passion includes providing up-to-date, valuable educational offerings for the OEM community.