Center for Bioethics

Dr. Sylk Sotto is an Affiliate Faculty member at the Indiana University Center for Bioethics. She is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, as well as Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs, Development, and Diversity in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Sotto co-chairs the Diversity Council at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Dr. Sotto received her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Colorado State University. She subsequently obtained an MBA in Management (International Business), an MPS in Healthcare Leadership (Policy, Law, and Ethics), and an EdD in Higher Education all at the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Sotto’s research interests center on questions of racial, ethnic, and gender equity in academic medicine. Her EdD dissertation, “What Gets Lost in the Numbers: A Case Study of the Experiences and Perspectives of Black and Latino Faculty in Academic Medicine,” explores case studies of underrepresented minority individuals, and their socialization into, perceptions of, and identity within medical academia. Dr. Sotto also contributes to scholarship on medical education and administration, academic leadership, and professional development.  

Selected courses:

School of Medicine, IUPUI: Foundations of Clinical Practice

School of Medicine, IUPUI: GRDM G506- Responsible Conduct of Translational Research, Course Director

Selected guest lectures:

School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, IUPUI: "Our Responsibility: Courageous Conversations about Race, Equity and Inclusion in academic medicine”

(In)Equity in Academic Medicine

Selected Publications:

• Sotto-Santiago S. Time to Reconsider the Word Minority in Academic Medicine. J Best Pract Health Prof Divers. Spring 2019.12(1), 72–78.
• Sotto-Santiago S, Slaven J, Rohr-Kirchgraber T. (Dis)Incentivizing Patient Satisfaction Metrics: The Unintended Consequences of Institutional Bias. Health Equity. 2019 Feb 4;3(1):13-18. Sotto-Santiago, S, Mac, J, Duncan, F, Smith, J. (2020). “I didn’t know what to say.”: Responding to Racism, Discrimination, and Microaggressions with the OWTFD Approach”. MededPortal 2020 Jul 31;16:10971.

Selected grants:

Ethics and Health Equity: The Black & Latino/a/x COVID-19 Patient Experience

• Role: PI
• Dates: January 2021 - December 2021
• Funder: Indiana University - Purdue University
• Description: Enhanced Mentoring Program with Opportunities for Ways to Excel in Research (EMPOWER)

Underrepresented Students’ and Trainees’ Socialization into Faculty Positions in Academic Medicine

• Role: PI
• Dates: November 2019–June 2020
• Funder: Indiana University
• Description:

Academic Success and Professional Development

Selected Publications:

• Tucker - Edmonds B, Neal C, Shanks A, Scott N, Robertson S, Rouse C, Bernard C, Sotto-Santiago S.Allies Welcomed to Advance Racial Equity (AWARE) Faculty Series: Design and Implementation. Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development. January 2021 doi:1177/23821205211034940. Contribution: senior, writer and editorial review.
• Sotto - Santiago, S., & Moreno, F. Hispanic Faculty Development in Latinx/Hispanic Medical Students: More Than a Century Presence, Activism, and Leadership ( J.P. Sanchez, Ed.) In Press: 2021
• Tori, A. J., Sotto-Santiago, S., Sharp, S., & Mac, J. Defining Student Success in Academic Medicine. Journal of Medical Education, 2019. 17(3).
• Sotto-Santiago S, Saelua N, Tuitt F. “All Faculty Matter”: The Continued Search for Culturally Relevant Practices in Faculty Development.Journal of Faculty Development. September 2019. Volume 33. Pp.83-94(12).
• Sotto-Santiago, S. (forthcoming). “Am I Really Good Enough?”: Black and Latinx Experiences with Faculty Development.” To Improve the Academy, Journal of Educational Development.

Selected Grants:

Maximizing Investigator's Research Award: Diversifying the Scientist Workforce

• Role: Consultant, Site Lead
• Dates: May 2017 - January 2021
• Funder: NIH/NGIMS

Learning Environment and Faculty Development

• Role: PI
• Dates: August 2018–June 2020
• Funder: Indiana University
• Description: To examine the learning environment and faculty development for Internal Medicine clerkships.

A Study of Underrepresented Minority Faculty Development Programs

• Role: PI
• Dates: September 2017–September 2018
• Funder: Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network
• Description: A study about faculty developers and their perspectives on tailored (underrepresented groups) faculty development programs.

Selected Activities:

• Board of Directors, Alliance of Academic Internal Medicine, 2018–present
• President, Administrators of Internal Medicine, 2018–2021
• Member, National Association of Minority Medical Educators, 2019–present
• Member, National Association for Diversity Officers in Higher Education, 2018 – 2019