Brownsyne Tucker Edmonds, MD, MPH, MS was chosen by the Indiana University School of Medicine Faculty Community Relations Committee as the awardee of the 2020 Outstanding Community Engagement Award in recognition of her passionate community engagement as evidenced by her work in the reduction of health disparities, advancement of social justice; and promotion of professionalism and humanism in the care of minority populations.
Dr. Tucker Edmonds details the significance of her parents in shaping her calling toward higher education as well as social justice. They both came of age at the height of the civil rights movement and were among the first cohort of black students to integrate at their colleges. Dr. Tucker Edmonds followed in her father’s footsteps and specialized in obstetrics and gynecology. However, her early passion for health policy, community health, and African American studies culminated in a broader perspective of herself as a member of a wider, global community of color. This early influence can be seen in Dr. Tucker Edmonds’ research interests today and she has been instrumental in promoting research in health services and health care disparities among marginalized communities at the IU School of Medicine.
Dr. Tucker Edmonds continues to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in academic medicine as co-lead of the Health Equity and Racial Justice Taskforce. The group, established by the Indiana CTSI, is working to establish a framework to evaluate programs that enhance diversity and inclusion in both leadership and research endeavors at the IU School of Medicine. Dr. Tucker Edmonds also works to promote equity and diversity in the health care system as a member of ACOG’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusive Excellence Workgroup that aims to develop a blueprint to inform and guide ACOG in fostering a dynamic, diverse, and inclusive community.
Dr. Tucker Edmonds’ work is advancing equity through research and diversity through programs; she advocates in the community, and is dedicated to shifting systems and spaces to promote equity for marginalized individuals and communities in academic medicine and the health care system. The Center for Bioethics is proud of all of Dr. Tucker Edmonds’ accomplishments and congratulate her on receiving this hard-earned award. Please refer to the IU School of Medicine blog for a more in-depth discussion of her history, journey, and triumphs.
Brownsyne Tucker Edmonds is faculty investigator for the IU Center for Bioethics; Assistant Dean for Diversity Affairs for IU School of Medicine; Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Clinical Pediatrics for IU School of Medicine; Affiliate Scientist for Regenstrief Institute. To read more about her research, please click here.