The Institute for Clinical and Translational Research is pleased to announce that Dr. Erri Hewitt has accepted a role as lead of the Advancing Health Equity and Diversity (AHEAD) program, one of three pathway programs housed within ICTR’s Collaborative Center for Health Equity. Her new role became effective on Sept. 9, 2024.
AHEAD was established in 2012 to support postdoctoral scholars at UW–Madison in the pursuit of prioritizing health equity science in translational research. AHEAD has provided seminars for postdoctoral scholars on topics relevant to their career development needs. The AHEAD program is a part of the ICTR Pathway program, which includes Advocating for Diversity and Equity in Predoctoral Trainees (ADEPT), and Success Together Reaching Independence, Diversity, and Empowerment (STRIDE), designed to create a cohort across programs through shared training experiences, social activities and near-peer mentoring.
As AHEAD lead, Dr. Hewitt will provide overall programmatic leadership; plan, implement, evaluate and refine career development programming, and provide the vision for AHEAD for the future. She will also engage with ICTR program leads to identify opportunities for cross-program collaborations.
Dr. Hewitt is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. She also serves as the department’s Vice-Chair of Equity and Anti-racism, a role she has held since July 2020. She contributes to ICTR a strong background in interdisciplinary mentorship (dating back her time in graduate school) and innovative program development.
A highlight of her mentoring experience includes co-developing and leading the Department of Psychiatry resident professional wellbeing groups since 2015. Residents participate in cohort-specific wellbeing groups once or twice per month over the course of four years of residency. Each group is guided by one mentor who supports residents in their professional development by helping them learn about their needs in a small-group setting in order to support their wellbeing as they go through residency and plan their careers. She also provides individual clinical supervision and mentorship to psychology trainees and psychiatry residents. Dr. Hewitt’s program development experience includes developing a seminar series focused on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) for trainees in the Department of Psychiatry.
Her academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Minnesota. At UW–Madison, she earned two MS degrees in sociology and psychology, a PhD in developmental psychology, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in psychology (clinical research).
A Madison resident of nearly 30 years, Dr. Hewitt enjoys bicycling and is a registered yoga teacher who teaches classes for women in the Dane County Jail.
She takes over the leadership position formerly held by Dr. Stephanie Budge, whose contributions to the success of AHEAD we deeply appreciate.
Welcome, Dr. Hewitt!