MGH Institute of Health Professions was recognized today as the only health professions college in New England that demonstrates an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, according to Insight into Diversity magazine.

The Boston graduate school is one of just 65 higher education institutions in the United States to receive the 2022 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award from the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. 

“The MGH Institute continues to work to foster a welcoming and inclusive campus where students, faculty, staff, and alumni feel valued and supported during these continued challenging times,” said MGH Institute President Paula Milone-Nuzzo. “Our commitment to equity and anti-oppressive practice serves as a pledge of our shared responsibility to challenge systemic barriers within our learning community and in the health care system.”

It is the sixth consecutive year the MGH Institute has received the award, which recognizes medical, dental, pharmacy, osteopathic, nursing, and allied health schools in the United States. 

Dr. Kimberly A. Truong, the Institute’s Chief Equity Officer, said the Office of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) guides the school in realizing its goal of being a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization. “The world needs exemplary leaders to advance care for a diverse society who can engage in equitable and anti-oppressive practices. That’s a cornerstone of the Institute’s mission,” she said.

The Institute in recent years has increased the integration of anti-oppressive practice throughout its campus. These efforts are seen in curriculum development, pedagogy, clinical education, community engagement, research endeavors, administrative practices, and everyday interactions with one another.  

It includes the school’s innovative JEDI Fellows initiative, in which students develop leadership skills and work with academic programs, leading workshops and dialogue throughout the campus while learning skills and experiences to provide patient-centered and holistic care. 

In 2021, the IHP became the first school in the U.S. to approve and implement a guideline for recognizing the disproportionate invisible labor of faculty of color. It provides the opportunity to trim up to four hours from their teaching workload to acknowledge their service to students of color as well as time spent supporting and coaching White colleagues about DEI issues. 

“These actions and many others that have evolved from our commitment to equity makes us stronger as an institution and helps us prepare health care professionals to effectively care for the nation’s increasingly diverse population,” said Milone-Nuzzo. “Our aspirational goal is to develop and teach our students skills to better serve marginalized and minoritized communities in order to address existing inequities.”

According to Insight publisher Lenore Pearlstein, the magazine’s process includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — and leadership support for campus diversity and inclusion. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a Health Professions HEED Award recipient,” said Perlstein. “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.”

The MGH Institute will be featured with the other recognized colleges in the magazine’s December edition.

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