College Receives National Excellence in Diversity Award

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix has received the 2019 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

As a recipient of the annual Health Professions HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — the college will be featured, along with 42 other recipients, in the December 2019 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

“One of the key values we hold as an institution is our dedication to diversity and inclusion,” said Guy L. Reed, MD, MS, Dean of the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix. “In the true spirit of inclusive excellence, everyone plays a vital role in advancing diversity and inclusion. There is much to celebrate, but still more work to be done.”

Francisco Lucio, JD, Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion, said the national award "signals that we are on the right path in our strategic goals and transformative vision of inclusive excellence in health care. I look forward to the continued engagement from our wonderful college community who made this possible."

The college’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion has set itself apart through collaborations with other departments at the college to create community-building activities for students, residents, faculty and staff. The office also participates in community events and celebrations. For example, a group from the college organized and staffed an informative sexual health education booth at the annual Pride Festival Parade in Phoenix. The office also partnered with the City of Phoenix PHXteens Mobile Recreation Unit for a pilot program that used activities to inspire children in underserved areas to consider careers in medicine.

The Diversity and Inclusion office also hosts a plethora of events throughout the year, including an Inclusive Excellence Speaker Series and HealthWeek, which offers unique perspectives on different cultures and communities.

The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees, continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion, said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

“We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient,” Pearlstein said. “Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”

The Health Professions HEED Award is the only national honor recognizing U.S. medical, dental, pharmacy, osteopathic, nursing, veterinary, allied health and other health schools and centers that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion across their campuses.