The UCR School of Medicine has received the 2021 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity, or HEED, Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. The award recognizes U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Dr. Deborah Deas, vice chancellor of health sciences and the Mark and Pam Rubin Dean of the School of Medicine, expressed delight in the medical school receiving the HEED award for the third consecutive year. She said the school is committed to broadening diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, throughout its programs, initiatives, recruitment practices, and community outreach.

“I am so grateful to the many faculty and staff members in the medical school who have worked to create an atmosphere where the principles of DEI are celebrated,” she said. “It is because of this hard work that we are being recognized for our DEI accomplishments.”

The medical school will be featured, along with 50 other recipients, in the December 2021 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. 

“The medical school is pleased to receive the HEED award again because it highlights our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion for the whole School of Medicine community,” said Dr. Takesha Cooper, an associate clinical professor of health sciences who serves as equity advisor in the medical school.

The Health Professions HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application. It 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. 

“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,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

Within the UC system, only two campuses received the HEED Award this year; the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis is the other recipient.