The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy received the 2023 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. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — UT Austin College of Pharmacy will be featured, along with 64 other recipients, in the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This is the second year Texas Pharmacy has been named as a Health Professions HEED Award recipient and is one of six pharmacy schools in the nation to receive the award.
During the week before classes at our white coat ceremony both our faculty and students take the Oath of a Pharmacist which states, I will promote inclusion, embrace diversity and advocate for justice to advance health equity. “This value and commitment is simultaneously reflected in all of our college efforts by actively addressing issues of representation, climate and success to educate a future healthcare workforce that is diverse and equity-driven”, says UT College of Pharmacy Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion Tonia Guida, Ph.D.
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected UT Austin College of Pharmacy specifically, due to its intentional diversity recruitment efforts and pathways programs into the Pharm.D., Ph.D. and faculty ranks.
“The Health Professions HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — 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 Health Professions HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for schools where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”
To view the list of winners and learn more, visit Insight Into Diversity's website.