Diversity broadens our frame of reference, and underscores our core values—excellence, integrity, collaboration, courtesy, compassion, diversity and professionalism resonate without regard to our race, gender, economic standing, our native language or whatever place we call home.
The UF College of Dentistry’s educational community reflects the society we serve, and, as a consequence, our student, faculty and staff populations mirror the ethnic, gender and economic diversity of the world in which our students live and work.
Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award
UF College of Dentistry received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in 2015 and the Health Professions HEED Award each subsequent year. The INSIGHT Into Diversity HEED Award, open to all colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada, measures an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment in regard to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff.
“Success in the area of diversity isn’t related to just numbers and percentages. It is about an entire culture of inclusion and acceptance throughout the dental school experience. It relates to faculty and staff, as well as students and residents, and is a natural expression of having a humanistic approach to recruitment, education, research and day-to-day interactions,” said A. Isabel Garcia, D.D.S., M.P.H., dean.