Three schools at the University of Wisconsin–Madison—Pharmacy, Nursing, and Veterinary Medicine—have been honored with the 2024 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from Insight Into Diversity, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
“I am immensely proud that UW–Madison’s School of Pharmacy, School of Nursing, and School of Veterinary Medicine are recognized nationally for their steadfast commitment to inclusive excellence and celebrated as leaders in health education,” said LaVar J. Charleston, UW–Madison’s Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Excellence. “This reflects our collective efforts to foster a learning environment that deeply values inclusion and a sense of belonging across our education, clinical practice, training, and service. I take great pride in our Badger students who are at the forefront of cutting-edge research, contributing to advancements in healthcare and ensuring wellbeing is accessible to all.”
This is the first HEED Award for the School of Veterinary Medicine, led by Dean Jonathan Levine. The school firmly believes that diversity among its students, faculty, and staff positively influences the educational process and enhances the quality of its programs and graduates. They are dedicated to creating a veterinary medical community that can better respond to society’s diverse and evolving needs.
Under the leadership of Dean Steve Swanson, this marks the second consecutive HEED Award for the School of Pharmacy. Recently celebrating its 140th anniversary, the school remains committed to health equity and inclusive patient care, preparing students through a Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum that focuses on serving medically underserved populations.
The School of Nursing, led by Dean Linda Scott, actively fosters an environment of inclusive excellence that welcomes diversity among its students, faculty, and staff, and was honored with the HEED Award in both 2021 and 2022. Celebrating its centennial anniversary this year, the school develops nurse leaders, innovators, and advocates for the profession and society through research, education, practice, policy, and outreach.
For more information about the 2024 Health Professions HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com.