College recognized for fifth year in a row as Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award winner

For the fifth year in a row, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine is a recipient of the 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 2021 Health Professions HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine will be featured, along with 51 other recipients, in the December 2021 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. We are proud to be recognized with The College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Optometry and the College of Public Health. Ohio State is the only academic institution in the country to have five colleges honored with the award.

Diversity and inclusion are foundational principles of our Be The Model® strategic plan and are incorporated into every goal area. INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine Diversity for this award because of our ongoing work to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion. The College of Veterinary Medicine continues to focus on recruiting underrepresented minorities and first-generation students by:

• Reducing barriers to entering the profession, providing engaging learning opportunities, and creating an academic community that fosters inclusion.
• Awarding scholarships vital to alleviating some of the debt burden for students and creating several new scholarships that focus on contributions to diversity were introduced.
• Implementing new virtual recruitment efforts that enable wider outreach and access for students to learn about the veterinary profession and Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. This virtual platform also allows connecting with historically black colleges and universities for virtual admissions sessions.
• Veterinary outreach and engagement opportunities provide care to underserved populations and unique service-learning experiences for students.

“The 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 HEED Award recipient. 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 College of Veterinary Medicine is especially honored to be selected annually since 2017. While we know we have much more to do to become the model working and learning environment that supports inclusive diversity in all we do, we are honored by this recognition of our efforts to date. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the work that has led to this recognition and, more importantly, to help nurture diversity and inclusion in our college.

“Evidence shows diversity in the workplace enhances performance, productivity, innovation and leads to better solutions to complex problems, while diversity in the classroom enriches the educational experience ,” said Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, dean, College of Veterinary Medicine. “We define and value diversity in the broadest possible sense, including but not limited to attributes, backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. Our goal is to foster an environment for working, learning and serving where each college member can thrive professionally and personally, leading to success and satisfaction. Although we don’t do this work for accolades, achieving this milestone of being recognized for a fifth consecutive year for the Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award speaks to the commitment and effort our college is making to foster an environment where each person feels welcome, comfortable, safe, respected and valued. The work of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is never done. It is a continual journey, not a destination. To achieve the results we want and need, we must be equally committed to the long-term work of changing systems and to the immediate work of addressing specific and current issues.”

For more information about the 2021 Health Professions HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com.