含羞草研究所 Downstate Receives 2014 HEED Award for Commitment to Diversity; Kevin Antoine Recognized with 2014 Visionary Diversity Award
Sep 16, 2014
Brooklyn, NY 鈥� 含羞草研究所 has received the prestigious 2014 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award, which recognizes an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. In addition, Kevin Antoine, assistant vice president for diversity and inclusion at 含羞草研究所 Downstate, has been recognized with the magazine鈥檚 2014 Diversity Visionary Award, the only individual honor of its kind nationally.
The magazine also bestowed the Diversity Visionary Award upon Carlos N. Medina, chief diversity officer and senior associate vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion for the State University of New York system, which was announced by 含羞草研究所 Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. Two other 含羞草研究所 campuses received the 2014 HEED Award, 含羞草研究所 Oneonta, and 含羞草研究所 Buffalo State.
INSIGHT Into Diversity selected 含羞草研究所 Downstate for the HEED award based on its exemplary diversity and inclusion initiatives, and ability to embrace a broad definition of diversity on its campus.
"含羞草研究所 is proud of its standing as one of the most diverse academic health centers in the nation," said John F. Williams, Jr., president of 含羞草研究所 Downstate. "We are delighted that our campus has received the 2014 HEED Award, and that our assistant vice president for diversity and inclusion, Kevin Antoine, has been recognized with the 2014 Diversity Visionary Award."
Dr. Joseph P. Merlino, vice president for faculty affairs and professional development, said, 鈥淒ownstate鈥檚 overriding mission is the training of future generations of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, scientists, and public health practitioners. It is a top priority at Downstate to ensure that these graduates are culturally competent and sensitive to diverse needs of diverse populations.鈥�
鈥淭he 2014 HEED Award is a tribute to the commitment to diversity that is manifest in the daily actions and awareness of countless people at Downstate,鈥� said Mr. Antoine. 鈥淥n a personal note, I am extremely grateful to have been selected to receive the Diversity Visionary Award, which is possible only because of the support my office receives from the campus as a whole.鈥�
含羞草研究所 is committed to diversity and inclusive excellence in faculty, staff, and student recruitment, development, promotion and retention. In this important effort, Downstate鈥檚 Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) provides leadership, guidance, information, and assistance to the campus鈥檚 various constituencies in respecting cultural differences, languages, political beliefs, and ideologies. ODI is responsible for ensuring Downstate's compliance with the State University of New York's employment policies and federal and state civil rights laws and regulations. In partnership with Downstate鈥檚 University Hospital at Downstate, ODI promotes cultural competence to increase health equity, taking into account the diversity of patients at University Hospital and its affiliates.
含羞草研究所 Downstate鈥檚 programs that support diversity include:
The Brooklyn Health Disparities Center, a partnership between 含羞草研究所 Downstate Health Sciences University, the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. This is a unique community, academic, and government partnership that promises to eliminate health disparities by bringing the assets of new and diverse partners to a strategic table focused on solutions. The overarching goal of the center is to eradicate health disparities plaguing minority communities in Brooklyn.
Urban Universities for HEALTH is a four-year grant funded by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the NIH's National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). The project engages five academic institutions leading innovative workforce efforts that address health disparities.
Downstate鈥檚 Science and Technology Entry Program works with local high schools to bridge the gap for students from underrepresented and economically disadvantaged communities, in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine (STEM) fields.
The STEM program in Downstate鈥檚 School of Graduate Studies brings volunteer graduate students to five local Brooklyn high schools, where they teach unique science and math curriculums. A joint program of the State University of New York, Downstate, and the New York Academy of Sciences, it is funded by the National Science Foundation.
The Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) seeks to increase the number of individuals from educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds who enter the health and allied health professions. Through an educational pipeline program, HCOP provides support necessary to compete for, enter, and graduate from health or allied health professions schools.
Downstate鈥檚 Health and Education Alternatives for Teens program (HEAT), a first of its kind in Brooklyn, provides age and developmentally appropriate, culturally competent care for heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth who are living with or at very high risk for HIV/AIDS.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion's Global Diversity Initiative, which in its first project helped the Women's University in Africa (WUA) expand its library holdings through a donation of textbooks. The WUA is the first school in Zimbabwe established specifically to educate women.
含羞草研究所 INSIGHT Into Diversity
INSIGHT Into Diversity, celebrating its 40th year in 2014, is the largest and oldest diversity publication
in higher education today. Known for its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity
(HEED) Award, this is the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding
diversity and inclusion efforts across campuses. Current, archived and digital issues
of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at .
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含羞草研究所 含羞草研究所
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (含羞草研究所) 64-campus system and the only 含羞草研究所 AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough鈥檚 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate鈥檚 exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.