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Diversity and Inclusion Mentoring Program (DIMP)​

Mission Statement

Our mission is to empower and support underrepresented medical students,  residents, and faculty by providing them with a comprehensive mentoring program that fosters personal and professional growth, cultivates a sense of community, and advances diversity and inclusion in the field of pediatrics. Through collaborative relationships, skill-building, and exposure to diverse perspectives, we strive to break down barriers and create a path toward a more equitable healthcare system for all.​

About Us

The Diversity and Inclusion Mentorship program (aka the Family mentorship program) is a pathway for early exposure to Pediatrics and mentorship in academic medicine, with the goal of creating a workforce that better mirrors our increasingly diverse Pediatric patient population.Our program seeks to introduce and foster mentoring relationships between underrepresented in medicine (URM) Pediatric faculty,residents/fellows and medical students. 

Program Structure:

  • Each mentorship “family" is composed of a  medical student,a resident or fellow and a Pediatric faculty member.Families are decided based on the indicated preferences from the medical student and resident (racial/ethnic demographics, career interest, etc.)
  • Regular mentor family meetings:The mentoring family meets bimonthly(minimum) and work together to support the personal and professional growth and development and  general success of mentees.
  • Large group meetings: All mentorship families meet quarterly for networking and professional development workshops  (e.g Qualities of good mentorship, Success in academic medicine, Wellness and burnout, Finance planning 101)​

Requirements

  • Two-year commitment. Expected minimum time commitment includes 6 family group meetings( 1-2 hours each) and 4 professional development meetings(2 hours each) per academic cycle
  • Strong interest in teaching and mentorship
  • Completion of a pre and post-participation survey

Professional Development Educational Session

  • Mentorship
  • Mindfulness and Burnout
  • Financial Planning 101
  • Introduction into Academia
  • Medicolegal Considerations

Meet our Diversity and Inclusion Mentoring Program Committee!

  • Atim Ekpenyong, MD

    Atim Ekpenyong, MD

    Associate Program Director - Diversity
    Pediatric Residency Program
    UC San Diego

    Point-of-Care Ultrasound Director
    Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine
    Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego​

    Dr. Ekpenyong is an Associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine.  Dr. Ekpenyong completed her residency in Pediatrics at St. Joseph's Hospital (Mount Sinai School of Medicine program) in Paterson, New Jersey, and a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas-Southwestern program in Dallas, Texas. From there, she moved to the University of Texas-Houston, where she completed an Emergency Ultrasound fellowship. She wears 2 hats: one as the Point-of-Care Ultrasound director in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and the second as the  Associate Program Director for Diversity for UC San Diego Pediatric Residency program.

    She loves to travel, swim, and read. Her ideal day would be a day lying on under an umbrella on a beach in Barbados reading a book and being served by waiters. 
  • Bruke Tedla, MD

    Bruke Tedla, MD

    Co-Founder
    Alumni Pediatric Cardiology Fellow
    UC San Diego

    Dr. Tedla is a proud Southern Californian native, who went to undergrad at Pomona College and medical school at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.  He then completed his general pediatric residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, before coming to UC San Diego/Rady Children's Hospital for a fellowship in pediatric cardiology. His interests include advanced cardiac imaging and fetal cardiology. 

    When not in the hospital, he likes to hike, cook, and travel.
  • Nathaly M. Sweeney, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP

    Nathaly M. Sweeney, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP

    Assistant Professor
    Division of Neonatology
    UC San Diego
    Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego

    Investigator
    Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine (RCIGM)

    Dr. Sweeney is board-certified in general pediatrics and pediatric cardiology. She earned her undergraduate degree from Springfield College, MA, and her graduate degrees from the University of Texas at El Paso, TX, and the Johns Hopkins University- Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD.

    She obtained her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, NY, NY, and completed a pediatric residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD.

    Dr. Sweeney completed her pediatric cardiology fellowship at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital-Stanford University, CA, and her Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship at UCSD.
  • Maya Kumar, MD

    Maya Kumar, MD

    Division of Adolescent & Young Adult Med
    UC San Diego
    R    ady Children's Hospital-San Diego

    Dr. Maya Kumar is an adolescent and young adult medicine physician at UCSD/RCHSD. She is Canadian and completed her medical school, residency, and fellowship training in Canada before doing a supplemental fellowship at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She is the Chair of the Nutrition Committee for the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine, and she is the Chair of the Adolescent Health Committee of our local chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

    Many moons ago when she was in medical school, she had a brief career as a breakdancer and headed a dance crew of healthcare trainees known as HipHopatitis.
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    Richard Silva, MD

    Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
    Division of Neonatology & Newborn Medicine​
    UC San Diego

    Dr. Richard Silva is a general pediatrician who currently practices as a newborn hospitalist at UCSD.  He did his undergraduate at UC Irvine, went to medical school at Stanford, and did his residency at UCSD.  After graduating residency, he practiced full-scope general pediatrics at FHCSD for a few years, before joining the faculty at UCSD.  Besides caring for newborns, Dr. Silva enjoys mentoring and teaching students.  He also is passionate about health equity issues and increasing the representation of diversity in medicine.  

    Dr. Silva was born and raised in Santa Ana, California, but he spent several years of his childhood living in Michoacan, Mexico.  In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife and three daughters.  He enjoys watching sports and roots for the Lakers, Dodgers, and Raiders.
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    Brittney Obanor

    UCSD School of Medicine
    Class of 2025
    PRIME-Health Equity

    Brittney was born and raised in Fresno, California. She later moved to Los Angeles to attend college at USC where she majored in neuroscience and minored in early childhood development. During her time in college, she worked as a preschool teacher through the AmeriCorps Jumpstart program. She is currently a third-year medical student at UCSD where she is also part of the PRIME-Health Equity program and will be pursuing a Master's in Public Health in addition to her medical degree. She is passionate about serving pediatric populations and aims to work to bridge health outcome gaps amongst marginalized youths.
  • Vanessa Villo

    Vanessa Villo

    Pediatric Education Program Coordinator
    UC San Diego

    Vanessa has various roles within the Department of Pediatrics. She is the Education Programs Coordinator for the UCSD 3rd year medical student Pediatric Clerkship (Peds 401) and the 4th year Pediatrics Inpatient Subinternship (Peds 427), the Visiting Student Scholarships for Pediatrics, the Pediatric Residency Program Medical Education Elective Rotation, Global Health Electives, and the Physician Scientist Track Program. She was previously the Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Ultrasound fellowship coordinator at RCHSD.

    Vanessa was born and raised in San Diego but has also spent some time in the Bay Area. She enjoys trying new restaurants, watching basketball, traveling, and watching true crime shows.