Members of the GW Nursing community, university leaders and local leaders gathered in February in Innovation Hall on the Virginia Science and Technology Campus to formally recognize the school’s Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Dean Pamela Jeffries unveiled the school’s message of diversity and inclusion, and BSN students presented posters about the social determinants of health.
As a recipient of the annual Health Professions HEED Award — given to health schools and centers that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — GW Nursing was featured in the December 2018 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
“Diversity plays an important role in the classroom, health workforce and society,” said Dean Jeffries. “It is an honor to be recognized with the HEED award as diversity initiatives are a strategic priority for GW Nursing.”
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected GW Nursing for a number of factors, including:
Community Outreach
In collaboration with the Rodham Institute, Drs. Sandra Davis and Arlene Pericak created The Health and Community Engaged Passport — an interprofessional approach to teaching nurse practitioner students about the social determinants of health.
Innovative Diversity Education
Macy Faculty Scholar Dr. Ashley Darcy-Mahoney developed and launched “Pediatric Adversity and Early Childhood Development and Health,” a course for nursing and medical students to learn about social factors that shape health.
Health and Wellness
Through the school’s Well-Being Experience, a series of eight sessions, students develop the knowledge and skills to cope with stress and adversity in healthy, proactive ways. GW Nursing aims to educate a generation of nurses who can manage the stress and challenges of an ever-changing health care environment.