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Message from our GME Executive and Designated Insitutional Official

What defines graduate medical education at Prisma Health? 

Across all of training programs, you will find a sense of community, shared purpose alongside dedicated team members, and a devotion to teaching and learning that is unmatched in any other environment in which I have worked in my over two decades of GME experience. 

Our GME programs offer a unique blend of hands-on training with seasoned, approachable clinicians who are dedicated to teaching innovatively, serving the health care needs of one of the fastest growing communities in the United States. 

As the designated Institutional Official and Executive overseeing all the graduate medical education programs at the Greenville, Greer and Oconee training sites, I would like to express my deepest commitment to creating, supporting and maintaining a clinical learning environment where all learners feel valued, engaged and connected to our larger community. 

It is my goal that our graduate medical educational programs and our health system understand and reflect the communities that we serve.

Diversity of perspective, background, ethnicity, sex and gender identity is fundamental to providing the most complete and compassionate care we can for every patient in every community we serve.  Simply put, the more diverse we are as a team, the better we are in meeting the needs of the patients who need us most.  We will all be better by learning from and about each other.

I am proud of the work our leaders and learners in our GME programs are doing to promote connection, raise awareness and to both learn from and enhance the experiences of our learners of many diverse backgrounds. 

As your DIO and GME Executive, you have my full commitment to our vision of creating an environment of community, inquiry, and accountability.  We will be deliberate in our efforts to promote unity and recruit a diverse workforce that can reflect the diversity of our communities.  We will listen to and collaborate with people in our institution and our community to better educate ourselves and others.  We will advocate for unrepresented and marginalized communities to ensure every person feels empowered with a sense of belonging and dignity. 

You have my promise.

Russ C. Kolarik, MD

Russ C. Kolarik, MD

DIO and GME Executive

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion GME subcommittee

The DEI subcommittee, chaired by Lisa Green, MD, reproductive endocrinologist and associate program director for our Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program, meets monthly. This committee sponsors activities designed to create an inclusive and connected environment for our learners.

Our DEI subcommittee continuously looks for opportunities to ensure learners feel included and heard. A few examples of activities include:

  • Virtual GME open houses exclusively for students underrepresented in medicine
  • Discussion of holistic application review and intentional recruitment of diverse workforce led by Dr. Frank Clark, a local and national expert in workplace diversity
  • Monthly resident and fellow DEI forum to assess learner well-being and solicit feedback on the learning environment
  • New URiM Intern Meet and Greet/Social Event
  • GME DEI “Coffee House” gathering to discuss important social/community issues such as housing discrimination and the impact of gentrification.

Established the “JEDI” Award for residents and faculty demonstrating exceptional work in the areas of justice, equity, diversity and inclusivity.