Inside Student Doctor Maddox Allen’s Fight for Inclusion
“No one should have to wonder if they belong here,” said Student Doctor Maddox Allen, PNWU College of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2028. “We have to actively create that sense of community, for ourselves and for each other.”
For Student Doctor Allen, that sense of community was never a given, but instead, something that needed to be built from the ground up.
As his class’s Senator for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), Student Dr. Allen knows firsthand what it means to navigate spaces where representation is scarce. As a gay and transgender individual who has spent much of his life in rural areas, he’s often felt, well, alone.
“It’s a lot of pressure,” Student Dr. Allen admits. “I’ve had to advocate just to be seen, to educate just to be understood.” But that experience also shaped his resolve — to foster a culture where no one feels invisible.
That mission is at the heart of PNWU’s Week of Belonging (March 24-28), an immersive series of events designed to amplify diverse voices and strengthen community bonds. The idea started small — a club-led initiative — but Allen saw an opportunity for something bigger. “I wanted to do more,” he explained. “This was a chance to make real connections, to show that everyone’s story matters.”
“This was a chance to make real connections, to show that everyone’s story matters.”
The Week of Belonging will feature cultural celebrations, hands-on workshops, and conversations that challenge perspectives. Events like Holi and a traditional basket weaving workshop invite students to experience cultures beyond their own.
“I’d never heard of Holi before, and that’s exactly why I wanted to include it,” Student Dr. Allen said. “We’re training to be healthcare providers. Understanding different backgrounds makes us better at what we do.”
Beyond cultural expression, the week also highlights issues often overlooked in discussions of inclusivity, like the experiences of individuals with disabilities.
“Diversity conversations tend to focus on race, gender, and sexuality, but physical accessibility is just as critical,” noted Student Dr. Allen. “I’m excited that this year’s events will explore inclusive medical practices and the barriers people with disabilities face.”
More than just a series of events, Allen envisions the Week of Belonging as the start of an ongoing conversation.
“Belonging doesn’t happen by accident: we have to create it, together.”
“I hope this sparks something bigger — curiosity, empathy, a willingness to ask questions,” Student Dr. Allen explained, “because belonging doesn’t happen by accident: we have to create it, together.”
