College Recognized for Seventh Year in a Row as Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award Winner

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For the seventh 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 2023 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 64 other recipients, in the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

We are proud to be recognized alongside Ohio State's College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Optometry, College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health and College of Veterinary Medicine. Ohio State is the only academic institution in the country to have six 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 creating an inclusive environment by:

• Creating a community cupboard resource to support the health and well-being of our veterinary students facing food insecurity so they may focus on their educational journey and success. 
• Expanding our work with community partners and schools for unique experiences to foster interest in careers in veterinary medicine.
• Developing an inclusive teaching initiative that prioritizes the diverse needs and backgrounds of all students, ensuring equal access and a sense of value in the learning process. 

“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 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 member of our college feels they belong and can thrive both 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.”

The Health Professions HEED Award is the only national honor recognizing institutions of higher education for their outstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The selection process includes a comprehensive and rigorous application exploring student and employee recruitment and retention best practices and leadership support of diversity and inclusion efforts.

For more information about the 2023 Health Professions HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com.