Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has received the 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
This marks the 10th consecutive year PCOM has been named a HEED Award recipient, a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Insight Into Diversity magazine selected PCOM for its efforts in advancing health equity through the creation of educational programs, impactful advocacy efforts, and meaningful community partnerships. Notable accomplishments include PCOM’s Opportunities Academy, a weeklong enrichment program to inspire high school students from traditionally underrepresented groups who are interested in studying health care and medicine, and the Pathways to Medicine Undergraduate Summer Research Internship, which affords underrepresented males in science and psychology majors an opportunity to engage in research at PCOM.
“We are honored to receive this milestone recognition for our commitment to advancing DEI initiatives across our campus community,” said Marcine Pickron-Davis, PhD, PCOM’s chief diversity and community relations officer. “Cultivating an environment of inquiry, inquisitiveness and respect is critical to achieving institutional change, and we look forward to continuing these efforts as we aim to improve the quality of life in underserved communities.”
“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 — leadership support for diversity, campus culture and climate, supplier diversity, and many 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.”
PCOM will be featured with 185 other award winners in the November/December 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine.
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
Gabrielle DePietro
Associate Director, News and Media Relations
Email: gabrielde2@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6304
© 2024 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine