Rockville, MD, September 13, 2021 – The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) announces the launch of a new department, the Office of Organizational Culture, Equity and Inclusive Excellence (Equity Office). Headed by Chief Equity Officer (CEqO) and Senior Advisor to the CEO, Debra Joy Pérez, Ph.D. (she/her/ella), the Equity Office will shape and implement all diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) programs and initiatives.
“Our DEIB work should always be about seeing diverse perspectives and how to approach complex problems from different viewpoints. DEIB is all about culture building, it is a way of looking at the work and the world that fosters the best workplace for our people,” said Debra Joy Pérez, Ph.D, USP CEqO and Senior Advisor to the CEO. “Evidence shows that when more diverse perspectives are included, there is more innovation, creative thinking and better problem solving—three critical drivers in applying our science to fulfill our public health mission. Our fundamental belief at USP is that equity equals excellence – excellence in our staff and excellence in our science. Only when we fully embrace the practice of equity can we benefit from the richness and talents of our staff.”
Pérez is joined by Degie Kongsilp, who will lead DEIB program development and operations and Kristell Caballero Saucedo, who was selected to be a USP Fellow from the National Urban Fellows. The Equity Office team will be supported by USP’s Executive Team, DIB Council, and leadership, extended via a variety of affinity groups and partner groups across the organization in pursuit of USP mission priority to create enabling conditions and drive accountability in embedding the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at USP.
Pérez is the founder of multiple national networks of diverse and under-represented fellows and scholars, including New Connections, Latina Researcher Network, and the LGBTQ+ Scholars of Color Network. She has facilitated the development of organization-wide equity and inclusion principles for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and assessed national public health leadership programming for the Kresge Foundation.
USP Chief Executive Officer Ronald T. Piervincenzi, Ph.D. (he/ him/his) noted, “Led by Dr. Pérez, the USP Equity Office will champion and integrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging across all USP operations and mission activities, including serving as a resource for our worldwide volunteers and staff.”
About USP
USP is an independent, nonprofit, scientific organization that sets quality standards for medicines, dietary supplements, and food ingredients worldwide. USP’s quality standards are enforceable in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration and legally recognized in more than 50 countries. These standards, which are continuously developed and revised by more than 750 volunteer experts in science, industry, healthcare, and academia, are also used in more than 150 countries. Learn more at www.usp.org
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