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Office of Equity

MUSC Welcomes New Chief Equity Officer

MUSC is pleased to welcome Michael de Arellano, Ph.D., as its new chief equity officer. He succeeds Willette Burnham-Williams, Ph.D., who had held the role for the enterprise since 2020.

Picture of Dr. Michael de Arellano

MUSC President David Cole, M.D., thanked Dr. Burnham-Williams for her outstanding service. “We’re grateful for her dedication and contributions to MUSC as she helped advance our mission at MUSC. She has accepted a role at Wesleyan University as vice president of its Office of Equity and Inclusion. They’re lucky to have her, and we wish her all the best.”

Dr. Burnham-Williams’ successor, Dr. de Arellano, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He most recently served as the senior associate dean for diversity in the College of Medicine, a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, co-director of training and technical assistance in the MUSC-based National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center, and a former director of the National Crime Victims’ Center’s Hispanic Outreach Program.

Dr. de Arellano’s achievements have been recognized in several publications, including being named among the ten most influential Latinos in Charleston by El Informador Newspaper. He has also been honored by the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and was named a provider of outstanding service in the advancement of cultural competence in child maltreatment, prevention, and intervention by the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children.

MUSC Health CEO Patrick Cawley, M.D., who is also executive vice president for Health Affairs at MUSC, said Dr. de Arellano will be a great fit for the senior leadership team here. “I look forward to working with Dr. de Arellano, who is a well-known and accomplished leader at MUSC. His career has been dedicated to building teams to resolve equity problems.”

Dr. Cole agreed, stating, “Dr. de Arellano is an excellent clinician and professor with a natural ability to connect with people and, at the same time, see the bigger picture. It’s important for us to continue to cultivate equity for everyone. He is the right person to succeed Dr. Burnham-Williams and further advance the cause that’s at the heart of MUSC’s core values."

Dr. de Arellano assumed the position of chief equity officer on January 1.

 

 Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award 2023 - Diversity Champion Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award 2023 Health Professions School  

 

MUSC is proud to be recognized as a recipient of Insight Into Diversity's 2023 Diversity Champion Award and Health Professions School Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award.