College of Nursing and Health Sciences
We’re pleased to introduce a new way to stay engaged with the intercultural communities of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) and the Larner College of Medicine (LCOM). Check back often for the latest updates, upcoming events, and meaningful opportunities to connect.

Upcoming Events

August

August 28
Orientation CNHS
Topic: Recruitment of Kaleidoscope Membership
Speakers: Sefakor and Kaleidoscope Leaders

August–December
CNHS Staff Book Club
Topic: I’m Able: A Woman’s Advice for Disability Change Agents

2026–2027
Intercultural Excellence (IE) Library Series
Details: TBD (Led by Kelli Kauffroath @ Dana Library)

Ongoing
Committee on Intercultural Excellence
Topic: Events on Green, Gold, and Bold

September

September 2 (12–1 PM)
Gender Equity Education Series
Topic: Evolution of Leadership Development Programs in Academic Medicine
Speaker: Nancy Spector, MD

September 16
Gender Equity Education Series
Topic: Reframing Distress: Why Moral Injury Matters

September 23 (12–1 PM)
Sickle Cell Awareness Month Lecture
Topic: Sickle Cell in VT/New England; Progress in Treatment
Speaker: Matthew Shiel

September 25
Health Equity Summit & Translational Research Session
Topic: The Science of Health Disparities
Speakers: Debora Kamin Mukaz, MD; Nimrat Chatterjee, MD

Late September / Early October (TBD)
Hispanic American Heritage Month Trivia
Hosted by LMSA & Kaleidoscope

October

October 5
Imbasciani LGBTQ Health Equity Lecture
Topic: LGBTQ+ and Intersex Healthcare
Speaker: I.W. Gregorio

October 6
VT Language Justice Project Event
Topic: Translation of Health Education Resources
Facilitators: Hannah McGuirk, Alison Segar

October (TBD)
Kaleidoscope Craft Night
Activity: Vision board making

November

November (TBD)
Native American HEALTHstory Month Lecture
Topic: Foundations of Native American Health Care in the U.S.

November 30 – December 4
COTS Personal Care Drive
Details: Donation drive for Committee on Temporary Shelter

January

January 26
MLK Day of Service
Activity: Blanket making for Golisano Children’s Hospital

January 27
MLK Health Equity Lecture
Topic: The Black Hospital Movement & the Legacy of the Flexner Report
Speaker: Vanessa Northington Gamble

February

February (TBD)
CNHS Intercultural Excellence Lecture
Topic: Community-Based Participatory Research: Centering Voices
Speakers: Dr. Bikki Tran Smith; Noah Barclay-Derman, MPH

February 5
Medical Education Grand Rounds
Topic: The Inequitable Experiences of Left-Handed Medical Students in Surgical Education

March

March 3
Love at the Roots Workshop
Topic: Slowful Pedagogy
Speaker: Rhiannon M. Kim

March 10
Lymphedema Awareness Month Lecture
Topic: From Diagnosis to Destiny: Lymphedema, Survivorship, and the Physician-as-Patient Experience

April 

April (TBD)
Disability & Intercultural Connections Event

May

May (12 PM, date TBD)
Older Americans Month – Center on Aging Panel
Topic: Ageism awareness and the value of intergenerational learning
Speaker: Marissa Birne

Past Events

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April 2026

Microaggressions Workshop

Date: April 22, 12–1 p.m.
Speaker: Dean Noma Anderson, Ph.D.
Workshop for faculty and staff on addressing microaggressions in academic and clinical settings.
Join via Zoom

Kaleidoscope Spring Semester Cultural Taste Tasting

Date: Thursday, April 23, 5:30-7 p.m.
Location: Marsh 233 – Nutrition & Food Sciences Food Lab
Cooking session featuring Mexican food. Priority for CNHS students. RSVP by March 20 to participate.

March 2026

Inclusive Mentoring with Dr. Irene Salinas

Date: Thursday, March 5, 12–1 p.m. (Online)
A talk by Dr. Irene Salinas, Evolutionary Immunologist and Professor of Biology at the University of New Mexico, on strengthening inclusive mentoring practices.
Collaborator: Larner College of Medicine (LCOM)
Join via Zoom: Inclusive Mentoring Session

UVM Our Common Ground Symposium: Building Resilience through Connection

Dates: Monday–Thursday, March 16–19
CNHS faculty and staff may attend for free using registration code CNHS. Speakers include Michael Benitez, Yassin “NARCY” Alsalman, Dr. Joel Davis Brown, and Professor Rhonda Magee.
Event Information: Symposium Details

Narratives of Gender Affirming Care in the United States

Date: Wednesday, March 18, 12–1 p.m. (Online)
Speaker: Theresa Graziano, Ph.D.
Focus on the impact of minority stress and health disparities affecting sexual and gender minorities.
Join via Zoom: Gender‑Affirming Care Lecture

Inclusive Excellence Workshop for CNHS & LCOM Staff

Date: Tuesday, March 24, 12–1 p.m.
Location: HSRF 200
Facilitator: Sherwood Smith, Ph.D.
Professional development session for staff on inclusive excellence.

Kaleidoscope Spring Semester Cultural Taste Tasting

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 5:30-7 p.m.
Location: Marsh 233 – Nutrition & Food Sciences Food Lab
Cooking session featuring Ghanaian red red (plantains and beans). Priority for CNHS students. RSVP by March 20 to participate.

February 2026

Black Healthstory Month Lecture & Trivia

Date: February 19, 11:45–12:45 p.m.
Location: Rowell 103 & Zoom
Speaker: Keke Fairfax, Ph.D.
Topic: Developing biomedical training programs to increase students’ success in the translational research workforce.

CNHS and LCOM Student Trivia Night

January 2026

MLK Health Equity Lecture

Dates: January 21 & 28
Speaker: Keith Wailoo, Ph.D.
Topic: Pain and Politics in American Life

CNHS Staff Event: Lecture Viewing & Discussion

CNHS and LCOM Student Event: Blanket Knitting

CNHS Inclusive Excellence Committee Movie Night

December 2025

Health Equity for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Date: December 3 (Virtual)
Speaker: Alyssa Smith
Focus on promoting health equity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their care partners.

November 2025

Promoting Cultural Heritage & Nurturing Leadership Skills Among Students

Date: November 20, 12–1 p.m. (Virtual)
Speaker: Sefakor Komabu‑Pomeyie

CNHS Student Event – Cultural Taste Test

October 2025

Panel & Film Discussion: Indigenous Food Sovereignty

Date: October 13 (Hybrid)
Location: John Dewey Lounge, Old Mill 325
Film: Gather

Health Equity Summit

Dates: October 23–24
Hybrid sessions on strategies to advance health equity.

September 2025

Pride Parade Participation

Date: September 7
CNHS, LCOM, and UVMHN participation.

Imbasciani LGBTQ Health Equity Lecture

Date: September 8
Event Information: About the Lecture

Hispanic American Healthstory Trivia Night

Date: September 10
In collaboration with LMSA.

Linguistic Diversity in Clinical Practice

Date: September 17, 12–1 p.m. (Virtual)
Speaker: Darin Woolpert, Ph.D., CCC‑SLP
Recording: View the Session

UVM Weekend

Dates: September 26–28
Details: UVM Weekend

CNHS Staff Appreciation Month – Music from Different Cultures

August 2025

Orientation Mixer & Kaleidoscope Recruitment

Date: August 13 (In‑person)
Held during the OIE orientation session to welcome new students.

July 2025

Disability Healthstory Campaign

Format: Virtual Museum Feature – Museum of Disability History
Social media campaign highlighting disability‑related stories and resources.

Read the IE Newsletter

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Explore recent updates, stories, and announcements from the College in the links below to the CNHS IE Newsletter: