For the third year in a row, the UCR School of Medicine has received Insight into Diversity’s Health Professions HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive campus environment.

UCR joins 61 institutions of higher education selected as recipients of the 2023 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. Honorees will be featured in the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity, the nation’s largest and oldest publication dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education.

“As we proudly receive INSIGHT Into Diversity’s 2023 Health Professions HEED Award for the third consecutive year, the UCR School of Medicine reaffirms its unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion in our pursuit of health equity,” said Dr. Denise Martinez, associate dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the medical school. “Our mission to improve the health of Californians, especially in Inland Southern California, hinges on a diverse and inclusive approach.” 

Martinez stressed the medical school believes that a varied student body, faculty, and staff, reflective of different backgrounds and experiences, are essential to achieving health equity, academic excellence, and advancing innovative research and healthcare delivery programs. 

“This recognition underscores the value we place on creating an optimal learning environment that fosters merit, talent, and achievement for all, ensuring our institution continues to serve as a model of diversity and a catalyst for health equity in medical education and practice,” she said.

The Health Professions HEED Award recognizes U.S. medical, dental, pharmacy, osteopathic, nursing, veterinary, allied health, and other health schools and centers that exhibit excellence in DEI initiatives and strategies.

“Our Health Professions HEED Award recipients demonstrate extraordinary resolve in working to build a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse campus environment,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “They also show significant commitment to addressing the gaps in health care disparities through a wide range of community outreach initiatives and by building a culturally competent future workforce.”