Diversity & Inclusion
Information for how to apply to our FPSEP Summer 2022 program will be posted at a later date. 
Beaumont Future Medical Scholars (BFMS) program is a collaboration between OUWB and Cranbrook Horizons Upward Bound. The program includes a summer in-residence experience on the Cranbrook campus and an academic year Saturday experience, with rigorous academic attention in English, mathematics, science and ACT preparation.
The Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP), co-sponsored by the Beaumont Research Institute, is an advanced, six-week, research-intensive program that teaches students about the mechanics of medical research. An important and beneficial component is when participants work side-by-side in laboratories with Beaumont research mentors assisting them with their current medical research.
The Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) Medical Explorers camp introduces middle school students to science investigations that reveal the way the environment affects human health and genetic makeup. This program fosters awareness of the multiple pathways that might lead to a career in medicine and health care.
Dinner with a Doctor was created as a way to connect Beaumont physicians with our medical and pre-medical students through storytelling. The narrative-driven event allows medical and pre-medical students to ask participating speakers about their own journey to becoming a physician.
Bone Marrow and Organ Donation Drive occurs every October in conjunction with Gift of Life, the Medical Library, Student National Medical Association and the Minority Association of Premedical Students. The event addresses the dire need for more individuals to register as bone marrow and organ donors.
This event will take place on January 21, 2022 via Zoom.
Deirdre Pitts, Ph.D., SCP-IPMA (She/Her/Hers)
Dr. Pitts provides leadership in the expanding areas of Faculty and Academic Affairs and supports the school's efforts to incorporate best practices in faculty governance, recruitment, search committee training, faculty orientation, mentorship programs, faculty outcomes research and evaluation. She plays a major role in the implementation of several goals and recommendations contained in the school's strategic plan and provides support to more than 1,400 faculty members. Dr. Pitts earned a B.S.B.A. from Central Michigan University, a Masters in Organizational Management from Spring Arbor University and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Oakland University. |
Vonda K. Douglas-Nikitin, M.D. (She/Her/Hers) Assistant Dean, Diversity & Inclusion Associate Professor, Pathology
Dr. Douglas-Nikitin received her undergraduate training at Johns Hopkins University and Andrews University. She received her M.D. degree from the University of Michigan, where she also completed a residency Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. She is subspecialized in hematopathologist having completed her fellowship training at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. Prior to her positions at OUWBSOM and Beaumont Hospital, Dr. Douglas-Nikitin was at the University of Florida where she served as Assistant Dean for Minority Affairs and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. |
Tracey Taylor, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)  Dr. Taylor joined Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in August 2014 as Associate Professor of Microbiology. She teaches microbiology and infectious diseases to M1 and M2 students. Dr. Taylor served as Vice Chair of the OUWB Department of Foundational Medical Studies from January 2018 until August 2019. She has served as an Assistant Dean of Diversity & Inclusion since August 2019. Prior to joining OUWB, Dr. Taylor was an Assistant, and then Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Microbiology at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, where she taught microbiology to M1 and M2 osteopathic medical students. Dr. Taylor received a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology from the University of Calgary, Alberta, and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Western Ontario, London. In 2014, the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners appointed her to its National Faculty in the Foundational Biomedical Sciences in the Division of Microbiology and Immunology. She served as vice president for the American Society for Microbiology, Missouri branch, and is a member of the International Association of Medical Science Educators and the National American Society for Microbiology. Dr. Taylor’s main research areas are medical education research, and microbiology and pathogenesis. She is specifically interested in the use of online learning modules for microbiology laboratory teaching, medical student peer assessment, investigation of the quality of life of Polio survivors; how the aquatic bacteria Plesiomonas shigelloides cause diarrhea and other infections in humans, and infections (including the antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or (MRSA) among populations that are experiencing homelessness. |
Tiffany Williams, Ed.M., Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Tiffany Williams, Ph.D., is the Director of Diversity & Inclusion. Currently, she oversees the diversity, equity, and inclusion programming and initiatives for the entire OUWB community. In addition, her role manages the outreach programs that include pipeline programs and community outreach initiatives. Dr. Williams came to the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine after serving for seven years as Assistant Director for Pre-College Programs at Oakland University where she worked to inspire both pre-college aged and college-level students to continuously pursue post-secondary opportunities and graduate programs. She has more than 10 years of experience in administrative management roles related to student programming and student affairs with a focus on improving preparation, access, success and retention for diverse student populations. Her research interests include college readiness, social justice and equity issues, retention and student sense of belonging among underrepresented student populations. Dr. Williams earned her Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University, a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy Administration from the University at Buffalo, SUNY, and her post-Master's Graduate Certification in Higher Education and Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Oakland University. |
Angie Freeman, M.S. (They/Them/Theirs) Prior to returning to OU, Angie served as a Senior Transition Advisor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas as well as Success Coach & Retention Specialist at Nevada State College. With Angie's experience as an adjunct instructor for the Black Male Movement, a presenter at various diversity conferences and being certified in Safe Zone 101, they are excited to serve the OUWB community with endless diversity and inclusion opportunities. Angie continues on a mission to share their experience and knowledge around social justice, privilege, and inclusion to the greater student, faculty, and staff community within higher education. |
Deirdre G. Pitts, Ph.D., is the Associate Dean for Academic, Faculty Affairs and Diversity & Inclusion. She is also an Assistant Professor of Foundational Medical Studies. Her professional background includes more than 30 years of human resources and labor relations experience in the areas of retail management, health care administration, municipal government and higher education. Dr. Pitts joined Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in 2011 as the founding Director of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development.
Vonda K. Douglas-Nikitin, M.D., is an assistant dean for Diversity and Inclusion and associate professor of Pathology. Dr. Douglas-Nikitin has served as the medical director of the Flow Cytometry Laboratory since she joined Beaumont Hospital in 2004. She is also the Program Director for the Hematopathology Fellowship and co-chair of the Beaumont Graduate Medical Education Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council. Dr. Douglas-Nikitin served as the founding Assistant Dean for D & I at the inception of the OUWB from 2010-2015, and she accepted a reappointment as Assistant Dean for D & I in July 2021 with the goal of further developing diversity, equity and inclusion resources and support for medical students, resident and fellows on the Beaumont campuses. 
Angie currently serves as the Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. They are a proud alum of OU where they earned a Bachelor's of Science in Marketing. Angie continued their education by earning a Master's of Science in College Student Affairs from Nova Southeastern University. 
