Meet our Team

The Faculty Diversity Advisory Committee (FDAC) is a standing committee which: 

1) identifies strategies, tactics and priorities for improving faculty diversity and inclusivity at the COM; 

2) assists in determining how to integrate diversity and inclusion, broadly defined, into everything we do at the college; 

3) provides a line of communication betThe Faculty Diversity Advisory Committee (FDAC) is a standing committee which: 

• identifies strategies, tactics and priorities for improving faculty diversity and inclusivity at the COM; 
• assists in determining how to integrate diversity and inclusion, broadly defined, into everything we do at the college; 
• provides a line of communication between faculty and administration; and\
• supports development and implementation of programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion that enhance faculty life (related to career development, mentoring, leadership, community outreach, etc.).  ween faculty and administration; and 
• supports development and implementation of programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion that enhance faculty life (related to career development, mentoring, leadership, community outreach, etc.).

2024-2025

Kristopher Abbate, MD – Medicine

Ahmad Iftikhar, MD – Medicine

Helene Felman, MD - Pediatrics

Sangeetha Murugapandian, MD - Medicine, Nephrology

Lourdes Castanon, MD – Surgery

Priti Rawani-Patel, MD – Emergency Medicine

Jacob Schwartz, PhD – Pharmacology

Jose F. Ek-Vitorin – Physiology

++Allie Min, MD – Asst. Dean, Faculty Dev. 
++Celia Valenzuela, MD(link sends e-mail) – Vice Dean, OACB, COM-T

***Jose Luis Munoz- Director, OACB, COM-T
***Lili Martinez, Executive Assistant

* Co-Chairs ++ Ex-Officio ***Staff/Advisor

Leadership Team

Sarah Placek, DO, Interventional Radiology, PGY-3

Junie Saint Clair, MD, Emergency Medicine, PGY-1

Amanda Goodwin, OBGYN, PGY-1

Mission Statement

The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson Housestaff Diversity Advisory Committee is committed to promoting and highlighting diversity and inclusivity across all affiliated residency and fellowship programs. Through collaboration with the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson Office of Access, Community, and Belonging, we aim to increase diversity within our institution by supporting recruitment and retention of medical students, residents/fellows, and faculty from underrepresented populations in medicine. We strive to raise awareness about health disparities occurring, both nationally and locally, to better support our community and provide optimal care specific to their needs. Our collective voices as trainees are necessary and vital for creating a welcoming, inclusive, and progressive educational environment.

The Student Diversity Advisory Committee (SDAC) is 1) committed to the ongoing support of marginalized and minority students at the College of Medicine - Tucson; 2) advocates for diverse patient populations; 3) provides insight and suggestions for what administration and staff can do to improve its support for students - continuing in UACOM’s mission to “advance health and wellness”; 4) promotes hiring and promotion of diverse faculty and staff; and 5) establishes structured mentoring for marginalized, minority, or first-generation students.

2024-2025 Co-Chairs

Ivan Carrillo 

Sameena Rahman 

Tawanda Zvavamwe

COM-T is committed to creating an environment of inclusive excellence. One major step in achieving this goal is improving our learning and working environment with the support of our Access, Community, and Belonging (ACB) Champions.

Meet Your ACB Champions