The Center for Advocacy, Community Health, Education and Diversity (CACHED)

The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (URSMD) is committed to increasing the number of physicians with diverse backgrounds and those who demonstrate a vision and commitment to improving the health status of diverse patient populations via patient care, research and/or teaching. The Center for Advocacy, Community Health, Education and Diversity (CACHED) supports programs to broaden the scope of medical education beyond the classroom to include health, cultural, and educational experiences with the goal of creating cross-culturally competent physicians.

Thus, the CACHED serves as a resource to bridge the URSMD with local, national and international communities. The goals of the Center for Advocacy, Community Health, Education and Diversity include:

Fostering inquiry, advocacy, assessment and dialogue about diversity and international affairs
Creating educational programs that address issues and experiences of diverse populations
Promoting the understanding of the social, political, and economic determents of health through Speaker Bureaus, Special Interest Groups, and Cultural Celebrations
Forming outstanding educational pipeline programs and initiatives for those who face social, economic, and educational challenges that thwart their achievement such as the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP), Summer Undergraduate Research (SURF) Program
Forming and/or maintaining hands-on experiences beyond the classroom that broaden student perspectives on health, human illness, and problems of human suffering in local and global underserved communities
Constructing internal and external institutional partnerships to address issues and provide educational experiences regarding diversity, international medicine, research, and community outreach
Collaborating with Alumni Affairs to maintain and establish relationships with graduates with an emphasis on those from underrepresented groups

CACHED is currently under the guidance and co-directorship of Adrienne Morgan and Gladys Pedraza-Burgos. Ms. Morgan coordinates the Community Outreach, International Medicine and the Student Research opportunities for medical and graduate students. Ms. Pedraza-Burgos coordinates the pipeline programs, assists with recruitment, retention, and serves as a resource advisor to diversity interest groups, in addition to assisting with alumni development.


Adrienne Morgan CO-Director, CACHED Director, Community Outreach, International Medicine & Student Research Mary Christian Administrative Assistant	Gladys Pedraza-Burgos CO-Director, CACHED Director, Educational, Curricular & Diversity Affairs Janet Koslow Administrative Assistant

CACHED Links

CACHED Home

International Medicine Program

Research Opportunities

Community Outreach

Science & Technology Entry Program (STEP)

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)

STEP and SURF Alumni "Where Are You Now?"

Visiting Clerkship Program