Mission Commitments

Loyola–Stritch School of Medicine is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community that upholds access, equity, and excellence as core values. We believe diversity and inclusion are essential to fulfilling our mission of transformative education, innovative discovery, and service to others.  

In bold pursuit of The Greater Good, our Jesuit tradition calls all faculty, students, and staff to intentionally honor the dignity of all persons––regardless of social, cultural, religious or political background or affiliation––and to promote social justice. 

In congress with Loyola policy, Stritch School of Medicine strictly prohibits harassment, discrimination, and mistreatment of any kind. These behaviors are unacceptable, inconsistent with the University's mission, and incompatible with the vocation of medical professionals.

Members of the Stritch Community are expected to act in service of others, maintain dignity and respect for all, and continually strive to promote a healthier, more just, caring, and thriving world.

An extension of the Dean and Chief Diversity Officer, the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ODEI) serves to enshrine Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine's mission commitment to recognize, recruit, and actively realize the educational benefits of diversity as an institution wholly dedicated to the pursuit of health equity and the provision of excellent, culturally responsive patient care.

We recognize 3 primary dimensions to this work: 

• Fostering an Inclusive Culture of Transformative Learning & Belonging in Service of Loyola's Catholic Jesuit Mission and Values, e.g., cura personalis;
• Fulfilling Stritch's Institutional Responsibility to Recruit and Prepare a Diverse Physician Workforce: Reflective of– and Responsive to the Evolving Needs of our Patients & Communities; and
• Maintaining Accountability for the Responsible Stewardship of Stritch's Evolving Community-Diversity. 

Strategic Drivers

The SSOM–Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion organizes and evaluates its mission-commitments in relation to six strategic drivers, which collectively guide and establish accountability for our continued progress as a school: 

1. Representational Diversity: cultivating, attracting, and retaining excellent medical students, faculty, and staff who reflect the communities with which we work, both locally and globally. 
2. Inclusive Climate: building a community that respects, celebrates, and leverages its diversity to advance medical education, physician training, and excellent patient care. 
3. Equitable Opportunity: advocating and advancing policies, programs, and partnerships that promote equitable opportunities for academic and professional success. 
4. Sustainable Partnership: pursuing opportunities for shared leadership and governance models that engage the talents and essential perspectives of Stritch students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners; prioritizing the development of relationships to help sustain partnerships, a foundation of a dynamic and thriving Stritch.   
5. Holistic Well-Being: honoring Loyola’s Jesuit mission, tradition, and identity as an institution committed to cura personalis (care for the whole person) through integrated strategies to support Stritch community members.  
6. Culturally Responsive Care & Leadership: engaging students, faculty, and staff in meaningful learning and professional development experiences that cultivate the capacity to care, teach, learn, and lead in a diverse and global world.