March is the month we celebrate the enormous and varied contributions of women in U.S. history. In 2018 we saw record numbers of women elected to congress, run and win impressive races for governorships across the country. Women ignited conversations on sexual assault and harassment, fanned the flames of awareness on pay inequities, and stomped out ignorance on limitations based on race and gender.

At the NIH the Office of Equity Diversity and Inclusion works daily identify issues, analyze policies, develop recommendations and strategies directed towards eliminating discrimination and underrepresentation of women in all occupation groups and at all levels of employment at the NIH.

The focus for Women’s Portfolio for 2019 is on "The Whole Woman". The Women’s Engagement Committee (WEC) is focusing efforts on the issues that are most important to woman and their mental, physical, or emotional well- being.

We must acknowledge that work begins long before a woman gets to the lab, her office, or her cubicle at the NIH each day. This year we will focus on allyship and our commitment to address ways to educate, advocate and promote womanhood so that we can fulfill our multifaceted roles at large. While we partner with the ICs, we want to hear from you directly as well with thoughts and ideas.

Visit the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion’s Twitter and Instagram pages to find Women who are making numerous contributions to science and medicine. For more information about Women’s History Month and other EDI 365 events, visit EDI’s page. On behalf of the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, we thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Debra Chew, Esq.
EDI Director

Do you have a story idea for us? Do you want to submit a guest blog? If it's about equity, diversity, or inclusion, please submit to edi.stories@nih.gov.

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