INSIGHT Into Diversity presents the 2023 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award Field Guide with examples of strategies and best practices used by Health Professions HEED Award-winning schools to foster an inclusive campus culture that promotes belonging and equal success opportunities. View the full list of 2023 recipients here.
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) has expanded efforts to advance the recruitment and retention of diverse students and employees. The offices of diversity and inclusion and development have partnered to ensure cultural proficiency-themed research grants are available for faculty, students, and staff. In addition, the Graduate Health Professions scholarship (GPS) endowment, the school’s largest scholarship endowment, targets students from historically underrepresented groups. ATSU has also partnered with elevatemed.org and diversityindentistry.org to further its outreach, recruitment, and collaborative efforts.
California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing partners in an undergraduate degree program with 13 community colleges that predominately educate underrepresented, lower-income, and often first-generation students. The community college students join Cal State LA during the summer between the first and second years of their associate degree program. Upon graduation, they return to Cal State LA for one year to obtain their BSN — and often return in two to five years for their MSN. Admission presentations and program materials are presented in Spanish and English and include virtual options.
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Summer Enrichment Experience is a free program designed to promote science and medicine to area high school students and encourage them to pursue related careers. Activities include interactive lectures, educational games, anatomy lab work, performance of basic medical techniques, and guidance for establishing a career in science or medicine.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Health Profession’s Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program has focused on recruiting certified medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) from the ranks of the U.S. military. In this 100 percent online program, students come from approximately 35 states and reflect the diverse makeup of the U.S. Armed Forces, and they represent about 3 percent of the UAMS student body. Specifically, 11 percent of online military students self-reported as Hispanic and 14 percent self-reported as Black. The MLS program has also made a concerted effort to connect with rural MLTs in Arkansas and other states. In the past five years, approximately 850 rural students have been trained in the online program, and many of them now serve their communities at small or critical access hospitals.
The Visiting Student Health Equity Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion is an award open to current fourth-year medical school students who are from or have lived experiences engaging with people in underserved communities. The program provides access and opportunity-related experiences for students who want to work in communities with health care challenges. With application numbers increasing, a student was hired to provide student-to-student peer outreach. In 2022, more than half of the students who participated matched in their visiting specialty.
As part of its OneMUSC strategic plan, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) created a dedicated position focused on equity culture and engagement to address faculty-specific diversity and inclusion needs. This role works directly with the faculty senate, administrative leaders, and other stakeholders to develop and execute action plans that retain diverse faculty and improve the internal work culture. MUSC’s membership in the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity further expands resources and programs available to all faculty and staff.
University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix was selected to participate in the Anti-Racism Transformation in Medical Education (ART in MedEd) initiative as one of 11 medical schools in North America tapped to help build a community of practice and model for antiracism medicine practices. The school adopted an antiracism curriculum that continues to integrate DEI topics through the fourth year of training.
In 2022, the University of Cincinnati (UC) James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy launched the Ruby Hill Mentorship program for underrepresented students. Participants engage in networking opportunities, one-on-one mentorship, group sessions, professional development, and more. Ruby Hill, the namesake for the program, was UC College of Pharmacy’s second minority recruiter and counselor.
When the University of Minnesota School of Nursing school enrolled 14 doctor of nursing practice (DNP) students in fall 2023, it set a record for the largest number of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students enrolled in a program ever. Just 49 AI/AN students graduated with a DNP degree nationwide in the previous year.
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy (UT COP) annually awards one faculty member, staff member, and student with a DEAI Champion Award. A DEAI Champion is an outstanding individual who makes significant contributions in helping to create a more diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive culture through their excellent service, teaching, research, and academic endeavors. To highlight the significance of the award and the importance of the work, each recipient receives a cash award of $2,000. To date, 12 individuals have been honored with a DEAI Award.
The University of Virginia School of Medicine encouraged departments and centers to strengthen community ties and foster unity and pride among faculty, staff, and the community by participating in local events. About 28 departments and six centers engaged in roughly 150 service activities throughout the academic year.