The Role of the Chief Diversity Officers in Academic Medicine was written for the American Association of Medical Colleges in partnership with the Institute for Diversity in Health Management.

This monograph grew from a special meeting hosted by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). From this meeting, Williams conducted research into the role of Chief Diversity Officers in Academic Health Centers. This resultant monograph is the first guidance on how to design, optimize, and position the Academic Health Center CDO role for success.

The monograph offers guidance on how to develop the role in ways that it helps medical school leaders to “reframe the narrative” of diversity and embrace a “strategic diversity leadership” approach to selecting students, educating and training culturally competent and diverse physicians, engaging in culturally relevant research, and providing quality health care to all their patients. In response to this changing reality, an increasing number of leaders are developing chief diversity officer (CDO) roles to elevate diversity as a strategic priority for their organizations.