Parveen Parmar
by Ray Delgado
The 50-year anniversary of Title IX has presented a great opportunity for Dr. Parveen Parmar to reflect on how much has changed and how much still needs to change.
“It’s wonderful that Title IX has hit 50 years,” said Parmar, Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Chief of Global Emergency Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC,. “It’s a nice opportunity to stop, look back and think about the world and where we were 50 years ago and how much has changed. And it’s great to have that framework to look forward to where we want to be.”
Parmar is well-versed in the importance of Title IX at USC and specifically at the Keck School of Medicine, where she also holds the position of Director of the Center for Gender Equity in Medicine and Science (GEMS). Founded in 2019, the Center promotes a climate of gender equity and safety for all by encouraging culture change and by establishing processes and best practices for achieving gender equity in recruitment, faculty development, and across the career spectrum.
While leading GEMS, Parmar has noticed a palpable difference in the school’s culture and practices. There are more diversity and gender-identity initiatives and there’s better representation of female-identifying individuals in leadership roles, particularly with the recent hire of Dr. Carolyn Meltzer as dean. Improvements have been made in awareness and sensitivity around transgender issues and there are now regular training sessions for various divisions within Keck, system changes that allow for different gender identities, and greater advocacy from Keck LGBTQ+ groups.
“There’s been a great deal of support and universal interest in making this a better place for people of all gender identities,” Parmar said. “It feels like a really different space and that gives us a lot of hope.”
Parmar’s work on gender equity extends beyond Keck. She co-chairs the USC NASEM (National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) Action Collaborative on Sexual Harassment working group with Catherine Spear, USC Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX (EEO-TIX) and Title IX Coordinator. Established in 2019 as an outcome of the Joint Provost/Academic Senate Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Gender Violence, USC is playing a leadership role on this national collaborative.
This work has helped Parmar see the benefit of creating an environment where people feel safe and valued. When asked who she admires in the equity movement, she focused on those individuals on the front lines and meeting the challenges in-person, on campus.
“I have tremendous respect for people who have the courage to deal with issues on a daily basis and continue on,” said Parmar. “I think of students and staff and faculty who face challenges and go on to report them despite tremendous risks of retaliation. It’s very courageous and helps create change.”