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New mural celebrates diversity at UB Jacobs School of Medicine

Artist Julia Bottoms created a larger-than-life mural featuring ten real UB medical students and alumni.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — It's a celebratory day at the UB Jacobs School of Medicine. 

A new mural by Artist Julia Bottoms is now complete, showcasing ten real life medical students and alumni of the school. 

It's called "Celebrating Diversity," and it serves to promote inclusion in the medical field.

"The Jacobs school of medicine here at UB is really committed to making sure that we train a diverse group of physicians, and we wanted our wall to reflect that," said Dean Dr. Allison Brashear. 

The students featured were selected during a casting call with the artist, which Bottoms said was extremely well attended. 

"It's the best outcome that we've ever had with a casting call for me," Bottoms said. "So many people were willing to show up. It was almost double of what we needed. To me, that meant a lot because people really are invested in the idea of representing diversity, and they want to show up, and they want to contribute to I would say even leaving a legacy of diversity." 

The mural was made possible by Dr. Rual Vazquez, a 1989 Jacobs School graduate, and his wife, Toni Gaiter-Vazquez, EdD, a 1991 UB Graduate. 

"I came to medical school at 1985 at the old building and I never felt connected," Dr. Vazquez said. "I think with the new facility when we talk to a lot of the students, people sometimes want to see someone that looks like them." 

Dean Brashear says the mural embodies the school's goal to improve the health of the entire Western New York community. 

"These students are going to become doctors, and we want them to stay in Buffalo," I would love for them to do their residencies in Buffalo, I want them to stay and take care of our patients. So part of the Jacobs school commitment is to improve the health of the individuals that live in Western New York across their lifespan and I can only do that if I train a diverse group of physicians." 

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