“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Excellence,” an integral component of the Florida State University College of Medicine’s mission and programs, is now being formally adopted as the fifth pillar of its strategic plan.

 “We have proudly hung a new banner representing this addition to give it a prominent place in our atrium, hanging alongside our other pillars,” said College of Medicine Dean John P. Fogarty.

“Although attention to diversity has been a part of our college and our mission since even before it was created, we realized that we weren’t making that as clear as we wished to external stakeholders and new arrivals. Given the recent focus and national discussion on social justice and the impacts of racism on health disparities, we needed to make sure that, in addition to being integrated into the other themes of the strategic plan, as it always has been, DEI needed to be explicitly added as a fifth pillar.”

The Strategic Planning Committee, under the leadership of Mike Overton, associate dean for continuous quality improvement, is working with others in the college to develop goals, objectives and measurable metrics.

“In the meantime, enjoy the banners in the atrium where diversity, equity and inclusion is central to our plan and holds a prominent location in the center of what we do,” he said, a nod to the placement of the newest banner in the center of the group.

The four original pillars are Education Excellence, Research Excellence, Clinical Care and Service Excellence and Community Partnership Excellence.