Commitment to Diversity Shines With TouroCOM's Sixth HEED Diversity and Inclusion Award

A national honor, the HEED Award is bestowed by Insight Into Diversity magazine to recognize national U.S. colleges and universities for their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Insight into Diversity is the nation’s oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

Awardees are recognized for best practices related to recruitment and retention of students and employees, leadership support for diversity, campus culture and climate, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion.

“It is with deep gratitude that we accept this award. It is a testament to our commitment and our mission of creating a culturally sensitive and inclusive healthcare workforce,” said Dr. Nadege Dady, Harlem’s dean of student affairs and clinical associate professor.

Three Medical Schools Recognized

TouroCOM has three campuses – TouroCOM Harlem, the inaugural campus, which opened in 2007; TouroCOM Middletown, which opened in 2014; and TouroCOM Montana, which launched in 2021.

The 2024 HEED Award marks the sixth time TouroCOM Harlem has been recognized with the award for its diversity achievements and is a first-time recognition for the newer campuses in Middletown and Montana.

TouroCOM’s flagship campus in Harlem is a leader among the nation’s osteopathic medical schools in educating students underrepresented in healthcare and has been recognized numerous times for its successful recruitment and retention of underrepresented students; the financial and academic support offered to students; and its extensive community outreach, among other successes. A student-led recruitment program reaches out to underrepresented applicants to offer support.

Master’s Pipeline Program 

The curriculum at all three campuses includes courses in health disparities and cultural competency and offers a rigorous M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that can accommodate up to 75 students annually - half of whom are underrepresented and excel academically, enabling them to matriculate directly into the DO program.

 “The master’s students have proven academic ability, perform well in medical school, and are often leaders in our school,” said Dean Dady.

Dean Dady noted TouroCOM’s diversity accomplishments are enhanced by the college’s award-winning afterschool program, MedAchieve, which supports and encourages underrepresented high school students to pursue careers in medicine and other healthcare careers.

In spring 2024, TouroCOM Montana launched an underrepresented student recruitment initiative whereby the medical school’s students visit students at the seven Montana Tribal Colleges through the Montana Post Secondary Educational Opportunities Council.

“All historically underrepresented and first-generation students are provided academic and social support through learning specialists, faculty advisement and peer tutoring. Social support is provided through a variety of levels on campus, including behavioral health services, a full-time social worker, student assistance programs and wellness activities, said Dean Dady.

Additional support is provided through peer-to-peer social connections offered by active and vibrant student organizations that offer mentorship and engagement with respect to diversity, she added.

“It is widely recognized that health care disparities are a significant problem in the United States. While some citizens can get excellent, state-of-the-art healthcare, others have difficulty obtaining access to the most basic of health care services, such as vaccinations and maternity care. Through efforts like those made at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in training doctors from diverse backgrounds, hopefully these barriers to high quality health care can be reduced,” said TouroCOM Executive Dean Kenneth J. Steier, DO, MBA, MPH.