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Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Environmental Scan
Purpose Fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in all aspects of research is vital to our commitment to health research excellence. We recognize that EDI impacts how members conduct research and our interactions with the Windsor-Essex community. Data demonstrate a need for EDI considerations at all stages of health research, including the study design and clinical trials (i.e., Brown Speights et al., 2017), as this has implications for the health outcomes of members from underrepresented communities (Abdillahi & Shaw, 2020; Piggot & CariagaLo, 2019). Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are words that are frequently becoming used in the research landscape, in healthcare, and all organizations. They are more than just words; they are important factors in improving health research, supporting individuals from underrepresented groups, and influencing health and life outcomes. There are many reasons why we should embed EDI into our research landscape. These include: • •
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Better representation of members from underrepresented groups in our research teams (i.e., related to sexual identity, gender identity, ethnicity and race, disability, etc.) Better representation of members from underrepresented groups in our studies to ensure that our work accounts for the unique health experiences individuals may have (Saltzman et al., 2021). Ensuring that our innovations and research findings can be better generalized to others, including members from underrepresented groups (Saltzman et al., 2021). Improving our education and healthcare programs, keeping them up to date and taking into account all social factors impacting individuals’ health, allowing for more inclusive practice (i.e., Blondeel et al., 2016; Daley et al., 2020). Improves our ability to solve problems, including different viewpoints and expertise within a research team and on our research projects (Swartz et al., 2019). Required by funding agencies
