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Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Staff inclusivity

BSMS > About BSMS > Working here > Inclusivity > Staff inclusivity

Staff inclusivity

BSMS Equality, Diversity and Staff Development (EDSD) Committee  

BSMS established an Equality, Diversity and Staff Development Committee in January 2022 and we received our Gold Athena Swan award in November 2023. Since then, the committee has been relaunched and currently consists of senior management, academic, research, clinical, professional and technical services EDI reps from all departments. The committee meets quarterly and aims to support the school in developing and delivering strategies and implementing the Athena Swan actions which promote equality and diversity throughout the school for all staff and students.

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EDI leads at BSMS

Academic Lead for Athena Swan – Dr Elaney Youssef

Elaney is an Assistant Professor in Medical Education and the Academic Lead for the Athena Swan gender equality charter.

Race Equality Lead – TBA in summer 2025

Senior Equality and Diversity Project Officer – Suze Cruttwell

Suze is the Senior EDI Project Officer for Brighton and Sussex Medical School. She coordinates the Athena Swan gender equality charter and manages EDI projects across the school.

EDI Coordinator – Daisy Boston

As EDI Coordinator, Daisy supports the EDI team with a range of initiatives including developing digital and creative content for EDI communication channels, supporting the day to day delivery of the Athena Swan project and leads on the LGBTQ+ Action Plan.

Equality, Diversity and Staff Development Committee (EDSD) Chairs – Dr Elaney Youssef, Assistant Professor in Medical Education and Leigh Ward, Curriculum and Assessment Manager for Postgraduate Taught

Undergraduate EDI Lead – Dr Muna Al-Jawad    

Muna is an Associate Professor in Medical Education. She is the lead for curriculum development on the Undergraduate Course and lead for the Inclusive Practice partners (IPP) scheme, a collaborative student-staff partnership focused on co-developing an inclusive curriculum. Students work in partnership with faculty to review and amend teaching content and pedagogy with the aim of decolonising and diversifying the curriculum. Muna can advise on inclusivity queries related to student undergraduate teaching. 

Postgraduate EDI Lead – Dr Wajeeha Aziz

Wajeeha is an Associate Professor in Medical Education and the Inclusivity Lead for the postgraduate taught curriculum and can advise on inclusivity queries related to student postgraduate teaching.

Student and Staff Inclusivity Advisor – Dr Arianne Shahvisi

Arianne is an Associate Professor in Ethics, her research and teaching focuses on inequality, with a specific focus on gender, sexuality, race and class. She has delivered training on these issues to various charities, corporations and NHS groups. She is happy to advise on any issue relating to inequality and marginalisation in the staff or student context. 

Useful links

Please visit the BSMS staff SharePoint page links to internal documents and initiatives here > 

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BSMS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awards

The creation of the BSMS Staff and Student EDI Awards is a way of recognising and celebrating the passion, dedication and time devoted by staff in their promotion of, and commitment to, equality, diversity, inclusivity and accessibility across all BSMS activities. This may include leading on EDI projects, speaking at events, supporting students and colleagues to reach EDI objectives, supporting student or community led research, supporting the development of community engagement or any other relevant activities across BSMS. The awards take place annually and recognise staff and students who:

  • Embed equality, diversity and inclusivity into a BSMS course or module curriculum
  • Manage activities or actions that aim to adapt or change procedures, policies or practices to make them more inclusive
  • Create a positive shift in culture at BSMS by working to change systems and environments drawing on principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity
  • are role models that create a sense of inspiration and motivation throughout BSMS (and, where relevant, externally)
  • Implement or enhance initiatives or actions that help students or staff from underrepresented groups feel welcome and included

2025 winners: 

Professional Services spotlights

Read our series of short interviews that celebrate some of our incredible professional services and technical staff.

READ MORE HERE >