DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND REPRESENTATION


VA takes pride in training future health professionals who will lead intentional actions to fight disparities in health care. VA understands that to advance diversity, inclusion is a must—regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, economic status, geographic location and other differences. Veterans should be represented in those who provide care to them. The value of diversity extends to the need for evolving health professions fields and programs of study as well.


• In 2020, OAA implemented a pilot program— Veterans Healing Veterans (VHV) that awarded 12 full scholarships available to Veteran students: eight students enrolled at Teague-Cranston schools and four students enrolled at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).


• The awarded VHV students attended the following institutions: University of South Carolina, East Tennessee State University, Wright State University, Marshall University, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Howard University, Morehouse School of Medicine and Meharry Medical College.


• One-sixth of VA health professions trainees come from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) which includes HBCUs, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AAPISIs).


• VA maintains strong relationships with Minority Serving Institutions through organized collaborations and events.


• The goal of the OAA-hosted 2021 Minority Summit: The Power of Collaborating with VA is to convene MSIs and further build health professions trainee diversity and representation.


“VA has an important role in addressing critical issues with regards to diversity, equity and inclusion. Our military is one of the most diverse organizations and VA should reflect the individuals who are in the service. Our physicians, nurses and other providers should look like and represent those for whom they care.”


— John E Prescott, MD Chief Academic Officer Association of American Medical Colleges


75TH


ANNIVERSARY / 2021


11


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