The 2021 Health Professions HEED Awards: Innovative Diversity Education

Dreamline Pathways Program

Dreamline Pathways are comprehensive community-based collaborations that introduce diverse K-12 students to graduate health professions programs offered by A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU). A common goal of these collaborations is to diversify the health care workforce so that providers better reflect the demographics of their patients. ATSU’s unique relationship with school districts and community-based organizations makes it possible to introduce young minds to careers within the health care field through experiential learning opportunities. Students are nurtured through campus and graduate student engagement activities and hands-on learning experiences outside of the typical classroom, including a weeklong residential learning academy.

Community of Inclusion Program

The Ohio State University College of Public Health’s Community of Inclusion program was launched in 2020 by the college’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence Committee. It is divided into three tiers — Partner, Leader, and Champion.— that are based on a participant’s knowledge and experience with the subject matter. Members of the program engage in learning experiences, discussions, and leadership opportunities that encourage introspection, advance awareness, and cultivate knowledge about diversity and cross-cultural communication.

Anti-Racism and Cultural Humility Training

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at the University of California, Davis and UC Davis Patient Care Services developed the three-day Anti-Racism and Cultural Humility Training for nurse leaders to advance equitable and culturally respectful patient care throughout the health system. Initially launched with 100 nurse leaders in small groups of 15 or fewer, the training has expanded to include UC Davis Health clinicians, faculty, and staff. The initiative focuses on promoting inclusive strategies in practice settings and policy, helping empower UC Davis Health’s nursing community and the people they serve.

“Sticks and Stones — Words that Hurt: The Impact of Microaggressions” Film

The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) created a film titled “Sticks and Stones — Words that Hurt: The Impact of Microaggressions” to help educate the campus community about the power of words. The video features testimonials and interviews with seven CVMBS students who highlight the effects of microaggressions they regularly experience. Viewers learn about the mental and emotional impact of these behaviors and what makes an environment feel inclusive. The video has been shared in CVMBS classes, a Welcome Week panel discussion, and e-newsletters.

First Friday Conversations

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health has hosted First Friday Conversations since 2017. The sessions are open to all university faculty, staff, students, and community partners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these discussions were held virtually. The conversations have covered various topics such as racism as a public health crisis and psychological safety in teamwork. They also provide a unique opportunity for the campus community to come together to learn and further strategic actions to create a more inclusive environment. 

Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI) Academy for Inclusive Excellence

The DDEI Academy for Inclusive Excellence (AIE) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) offers 14 DEI courses available to all campus community members to help them address implicit bias, microaggressions, microinequities, and more. It intentionally constructs learning experiences designed to engage, enlighten, and edify the UAMS experience for internal and external customers. The aim of AIE is to assist the institution in creating a culturally humble, proficient, and responsive workforce. Additionally, the academy builds capacity in regard to cultivating leaders in the space of inclusive excellence to fortify the UAMS Vision 2029 plan.

Caring for the Underserved Certificate

The Caring for the Underserved certificate program allows students in the University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy to gain the knowledge and practical experience needed to effectively address, reduce, and eliminate burdens that cause health disparities among marginalized populations. Through team-based coursework, mentorship from experienced faculty, and hands-on learning with community partners, participants are able to master the skills needed to become patient care advocates for vulnerable groups. The program is open to first- and second-year students in pharmacy and nursing who want to advance health care equality.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity in the PharmD Curriculum

Students at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy are exposed to multiple topics in the curriculum that increase their understanding of the importance of DEI. Early in their training, students have to learn about issues such as cultural competence, health disparities, and social determinants of health. These core concepts are reinforced throughout the curriculum, as are strategies to advance health equity. Courses also address LGBTQ-related health issues that all PharmD students are expected to be knowledgeable of. 

Outside the Margins Webinar Series

Outside the Margins is a webinar series hosted by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine that started as an opportunity to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the most marginalized groups in the U.S. Following these initial conversations, the series shifted focus to examine the experiences of underrepresented patients and providers in the U.S. health care system. Specific topics have included the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, the impact of health literacy on marginalized groups, and vaccine hesitancy. This series is open to faculty, staff, and students across the university and has brought together physicians, researchers, and community organizers to share their expertise.

The Historical Origins of Systemic Racism Professional Development Series

One way that the University of Maryland School of Nursing demonstrates its commitment to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization is by offering six days of DEI-focused professional development to employees annually. In 2020-2021, employees had the opportunity to participate in a three-part series devoted to understanding the historical origins of systemic racism, focusing specifically on inequities in nursing and health care. The series examined race, class, and social systems and their roles in perpetuating the early roots of oppression. It also offered courageous conversations about the school’s own history of oppression and how participants can move from understanding to collaborative action.

#VTCUnfinished

The #VTCUnfinished program at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine is a discussion series about difference and identity. The meetings are intended to encourage students, faculty, staff, and the broader community to share their experiences, stories, questions, and apprehensions about the complicated issues of identity and differences. These conversations center on specific topics related to health care and sociocultural identity, including Black maternal health, substance abuse in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, obstacles for refugees and immigrant families, and more.●

This article was published in our December 2021 issue.