Diversity

Diversity flourishes at UT Southwestern, which makes us a better medical institution and enhances the educational experience of our students. That’s why we’re committed to attracting and maintaining a high level of diversity within our student body, and why we offer a number of programs and organizations to support the needs and career aspirations of our students, particularly those from under-represented minority groups.

Many cultures and ethnicities make up or university community. At UT Southwestern, we embrace all of them.

Our Office of Minority Student Affairs is dedicated to helping ensure our students’ success in the medical school curriculum. Headed by Shawna Nesbitt, MD, MS, Associate Dean for Minority Student Affairs, the Office promotes effective communication with minority students, supports student organizations, and maintains contact with faculty and appropriate departments.

UT Southwestern has consistently been ranked one of the top medical schools in the United States for Hispanics by Hispanic Business Magazine. Furthermore, our support of organizations such as the National Medical Association, the Student National Medical Association, and the Latino Medical Student Association helps us maintain a welcoming and nurturing environment for African Americans, Hispanics, and other minority students.

Our level of diversity is perhaps most on display during the annual, student-organized “Celebration of Cultures,” a week-long event on campus featuring food, dance, art, skits, poetry, music, and cultural fashion from around the world.

Support for Faculty, Too

UT Southwestern President Daniel K. Podolsky, MD has made increasing diversity among our faculty a strategic priority of the University. In 2010, he named Byron Cryer, MD, Associate Dean for Faculty Diversity and Development, to lead a newly created office of the same name.

In his new role, Dr. Cryer is facilitating the efforts of chairs and others to recruit and retain the very best faculty.

To make diversity recruitment intentional, rather than incidental, guidelines for search committees for department chairs include the expectation that the interview process will include candidates from under-represented groups.