2023 - 2024 Edith Soderling Hagen Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards

MISSION

The mission of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) is to advance diversity initiatives and policies in order to promote access and equity throughout our institution. We foster shared commitment to a culture of diversity and an inclusive environment to support the success of our students, faculty, staff, and surrounding community.

EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AWARDS

Through the generosity of the Edith Soderling Hagen Diversity and Inclusion Endowment, ODI has established two Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (EDEI) awards to increase recognition of diversity and inclusion leaders and teams at UNR Med. One award is designated for an individual or team who are medical students, PA students, graduate students, residents, or fellows ($300). The second award is for an individual or team who are faculty, staff, or leaders at UNR Med ($200). These awards recognize innovative leadership, excellence, and impact from an individual or team responsible for developing and implementing an outstanding and effective program or initiative that advances diversity, equity and/or inclusion at UNR Med.

ELIGIBILITY

Individuals or teams (including any UNR Med faculty, staff, or learner or team with at least one UNR Med faculty, staff, or learner as a member) can self-nominate or nominate others for these awards.

NOMINATION AND SUBMISSION

Completed nomination materials must include, from the nominator, a letter stating the rationale and justification for the individual or team award, including a description of the efforts of the individual/team to advance diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as program/initiative goals and any outcomes, if available (1-2 pages). If a team is nominated, an individual team member must be designated to communicate with ODI regarding expenditure of the funds. Please submit nomination materials to Jennifer Dougherty at jenniferdougherty@med.unr.edu. Nominations will be due by 5:00 pm on January 26th, 2024.

AWARD SELECTION

The Office for Diversity and Inclusion will work with colleagues at UNR Med to review and select awardees. These awards will be given at the discretion of ODI and may not be awarded every year. Award winners will be notified in February and expected to submit a budget outlining how the award will be used within one month of being notified of award selection. Restrictions apply as to how award money may be spent, in accordance with UNR policies and procedures. All funds will need to be encumbered by mid-April and expended by early June, or may be subject to forfeiture.

AWARD RECOGNITION

Award recipients will be publicly announced at the Awards Ceremony the week of graduation in May.

QUESTIONS

For questions please contact Jennifer Dougherty, Ed.D., in the Office for Diversity and Inclusion at jenniferdougherty@med.unr.edu or 775-682-7935.

2022 - 2023 award recipients

The Edith Soderling Hagen Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards recognize innovative leadership, excellence, and impact from an individual or team responsible for developing and implementing an outstanding and effective program or initiative that advances diversity, equity and/or inclusion at UNR Med.

Learner Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award

The Learner Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award is received by Sonia Figueroa for her work coordinating the Allyship Forum for the past 3 years, where she has brought together all DEI student groups on campus, and has used this platform to better educate her peers on culturally competent and humble care and addressing health equity and social determinants of health pertinent to marginalized groups.

Faculty Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award

The Faculty/Staff Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award is received by Dr. Karen Thiele for her work to provide gender affirming, culturally competent and sensitive care for the LGBTQ+ community. Her efforts around passing along her training to our medical students and residents, so that we can all provide better care for our transgender patients. Working to obtain grant funding for scholarship around gender affirming care and educate other providers through Project ECHO and through her work on the Nevada Coalition for Sexual and Gender Minority Health.

For all of this and more, UNR Med is so proud of the work that Dr. Karen Thiele and the Sonia Figueroa are doing to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at our institution! Congratulations to the Faculty and Learner 2023 Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award Recipients!

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