Residency Council for Diversity & Inclusion (RCDI)

Our Mission:

The Weill Cornell Psychiatry Residency Council for Diversity & Inclusion (RCDI) is committed both to nurturing a supportive community of diverse individuals and to ameliorating mental health disparities, first acknowledging that psychiatry itself is an institution of privilege built on the same foundation as other institutions where structural oppression resides, then working from this assumption to spark introspection, growth, and action among residents.

RCDI aims to

• Advance diversity and inclusion through recruitment of residents traditionally under-represented in medicine both in terms of background, but also in terms of willingness and courage to speak out on issues of injustice in psychiatry.

• Educate ourselves and one another about the way social divisions based on class, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual identity and other life experiences and identities impact mental health, with the goal of developing into physicians more equipped to meet the mental health needs of all patients.

• Address social issues impacting psychiatry through activism and collaboration within our communities. 

Structure

RCDI is led by our Department of Psychiatry’s Chief Resident for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The Chief Resident alongside RCDI’s Co-Chairs, who are third-year residents.

RCDI is also comprised of a Steering Committee, which includes residents from all post-graduate years, collaborating to affect our mission and aims.

RCDI works closely with the NYP/Weill Cornell Medicine Psychiatry Diversity Council which leads similar initiatives for the entire department.

Chief Resident for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Chief Resident for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Department of Psychiatry will help to further cultivate an inclusive, equitable and supportive environment for all residents, particularly residents who are underrepresented minorities. The Chief Resident will collaborate with the department, of psychiatry, RCDI, and the other chief residents to consistently assess, develop and promote such an environment, including through active involvement in recruitment, education curriculum and department programming, such as grand rounds speakers.