Let DiversifyME, Diversify you!

As a bi-racial, Black and Japanese man who grew up in an underserved community in Vallejo, California, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are aspects of society that are of upmost importance in my life. Despite the educational and socioeconomic disadvantages that were present throughout my childhood and adolescence, the invaluable experience of growing up in the most diverse city in America has broadened my perspectives and given me insights into many different cultures. Spending my developmental years in such a diverse environment, cultivating relationships with individuals from different cultures and walks of life has helped me become a better clinician, teacher and person. In addition to having a more broad perspective, it has helped me establish relationships and build rapport with colleagues, trainees and patients alike. I have been able to leverage my life experiences to achieve high levels of academic and professional success.  

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Throughout my career, I have worked as a mental health clinical pharmacist practitioner (CPP) for the largest integrated healthcare system in the nation. While at the VA I have learned and helped to implement effective strategies to achieve personal and systemic productivity metrics as well as help advance the organization. In addition to my clinical responsibilities, I became a consultant at the San Francisco VA in the first formal office of DEI within the entire nation-wide VA healthcare system. As a consultant I analyzed and used data make essential decisions, helped to create a hiring toolkit to offer guidance, and improve, the hiring process, develop organizational goals and train executive leadership to obtain their buy-in and support implementation of DEI strategic planning. I have created or improved a myriad of other processes including: Lean process for CPPs improving access to mental health and substance use disorder care for rural veterans, protocols for treatment and administration of medications for substance use disorders, interview process for clinical pharmacists, pipeline internship for high school students which gives them exposure to various different healthcare careers. 

In my work, it became evident that my experiences, talents and enthusiasm contributed to my ability build rapport with others and have success in teaching and consulting roles. Learning and benefiting from interactions with individuals and groups who have different primary and secondary identity factors has been invaluable for me. I actively seek opportunities to learn about cultures and traditions from around the world and hope to share my experiences, knowledge and passion with others through interactive, activity-based, consulting sessions but more importantly, I hope to inspire a shift in perspective that allows the “Spirit of DEI,” to be present within my clients.