Eight Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Honored with 2024 HEED Award for Diversity Excellence

Awarded schools display outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Bethesda, MD) – The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) proudly commends the eight osteopathic medical schools honored as recipients of the 2024 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. Presented by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the HEED Award is the only national award that honors individual higher education institutions for their commitment to making diversity and inclusion a top priority across their campuses.

“We are incredibly proud of these institutions for their unwavering dedication to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion,” said AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “Their leadership not only strengthens our profession but also plays a critical role in addressing health disparities and advancing health equity across communities. Many of these schools have been recognized for consecutive years, underscoring the deep, long-term commitment of osteopathic medicine to fostering inclusive environments that better serve diverse populations.”

The following osteopathic schools were honored with the 2024 HEED Award:

• A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (8th consecutive year)
• Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (2nd consecutive year)
• Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (3rd consecutive year)
• Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (5th consecutive year)
• New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (13th consecutive year)
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (10th consecutive year)
• Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York (6th consecutive year)

Learn more about the HEED Award and view the full list of honorees across the health professions.

About AACOM:

Founded in 1898, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) is the leading voice for the education and training of physicians who practice osteopathic medicine in settings across the medical spectrum—from primary care to the full range of medical specialties. We support our member colleges of osteopathic medicine in their efforts to attract and train individuals who are fueled by a desire to make a difference in our healthcare system by treating the whole person and building a future emphasizing health and wellness for all people. Today, more than 36,000 future physicians—25 percent of all U.S. medical students—are being educated at one of our 42 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine, encompassing 67 teaching locations in 36 states.  To learn more about AACOM, please visit our website.

Contacts:

Joseph Shapiro
Director of Media Relations
(240) 938-0746
jshapiro@aacom.org

Christine DeCarlo
Senior Manager of Media and Public Affairs
(202) 603-1026
cdecarlo@aacom.org