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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.

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

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.

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

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. 

Race Equity Lead – Dr Neil Singh

Neil's clinical and academic interest is medical care for underserved groups. As Race Equity Lead, his focus will be to: coordinate and monitor existing race equity work across the medical school; organise a series of speaker events on race and health; and ensure BSMS is a place where students and staff of all backgrounds can thrive.

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. 

Student and Staff Inclusivity Advisor – Professor Dunx Shrewsbury

Dunx is a Professor in Medical Education and Primary Care, and leads on teaching focused on inequalities and inclusion in healthcare, people living with learning disabilities, LGBTQIA+ health inequalities and safe and effective allyship. Dunx is happy to speak to and advise staff and students on issues relating to inequality and marginalisation around gender, LGBTQIA+ issues and disability.

Useful links:

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

BSMS Wellbeing Champions

If you’re experiencing wellbeing challenges – big or small – our Wellbeing Champions are available for confidential conversations or to help you arrange support.  

Ian Angell

Ian Angell is the Coordinator for the BSMS Student Wellbeing and Advice team and a trained Mental Health First Aider. Personal and professional experiences of supporting others and himself through mental health struggles have led him to take on the role of Wellbeing Champion. He is keen to explore ways in which he can support colleagues at BSMS in the same way he has supported students as part of his job. His particular areas of interest are depression and anxiety, neurodiversity and the benefits of mindfulness.

Laura Arnold

Laura Arnold is the Senior Administrator for Clinical Neuroscience. Laura is also a Wellbeing Champion for BSMS as she is passionate about creating a positive, inclusive place to work. Laura is keen to make wellbeing something that is part of everyday life at BSMS – not just a concept, but something people can actually access and benefit from. Laura enjoys supporting colleagues, encouraging open conversations and helping people feel more connected. Being a Wellbeing Champion fits naturally with her personal values of compassion, inclusion and proactive support – not waiting until people are struggling but helping to prevent that wherever possible.

Darren Beaney

Darren chose to be a Wellbeing Champion at BSMS because he wanted colleagues to always have someone to talk to when things feel heavy and to provide a safe space to share openly without judgement. Most of all, he would like staff to know they’re not alone when they need advice and support. 

Suze Cruttwell

Suze is the Senior Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Project Officer and trained to be a Mental Health First Aider in 2024. She is always happy to meet for a chat if staff are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or need a safe and confidential space to be heard. Suze is happy to talk about mental health, anxiety, general overwhelm or EDI issues at BSMS.

Kelly Robbins

Kelly is a Senior Assessment Coordinator at BSMS and is passionate about promoting a positive and supportive workplace culture. As a mum of two young girls and co-chair of a parent’s network in her previous employment, she encourages open conversations about mental health, wellbeing and support initiatives that enhance overall wellbeing.

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

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 >