Touro Nevada Continues Its Work to Becoming More Inclusive Campus After Debuting Two New Initiatives
During a special ceremony held inside the Michael Tang Regional Center for Clinical Simulation, Touro University Nevada took two more critical steps to becoming a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive institution.
The evening’s event included the announcement of Touro’s new “Underrepresented White Coats in Medicine and Healthcare” Scholarship.
Each year, one incoming student from the College of Osteopathic Medicine and one incoming student from the College of Health and Human Services will receive a $5,000 scholarship. To be eligible, students must be from an underrepresented population and must have attended at least one Touro Nevada recruitment event focused on diversity in healthcare.
Aaron Ford, Nevada’s Attorney General, spoke about the importance of these scholarship opportunities for minority students.
“This scholarship is a wonderful step toward keeping higher education available and accessible. It will open up opportunities for underrepresented students to study here in Nevada,” he said. “Nevada is a state with a large community of immigrants and people of color, and we must continue the work to keep opportunities open for all people, those who reflect the people living here.”
Ford said he received a similar scholarship that helped him attend Texas A&M University as an undergraduate student.
Flanked by medical equipment and hospital beds filled with simulated patients, CEO & Senior Provost Shelley Berkley also announced the dedication of the university’s newest simulation manikin in honor of the late U.S. Congressman and Civil Rights icon, John Lewis.
With local elected officials, members of the Touro community, and others in attendance, Berkley discussed her relationship with Lewis during her 13-year tenure in the U.S. Congress. She talked about his lifelong fight for civil rights and equality for all, in addition to his special relationship with Touro.
In 2018, Lewis served as the keynote speaker during the annual Touro Gala. During his remarks, he shared his experiences on ‘Bloody Sunday’ and how he was grateful for the physicians and healthcare providers who cared for him and others after being beaten by white Alabama state troopers in Selma, Ala. in 1965.
“Congressman Lewis was an extraordinary man who made it his lifelong commitment to fight for equality for all Americans,” Berkley said. “We hope that dedicating our new state-of-the-art simulated manikin in his honor will help our students be better prepared to care for all of their patients after they graduate.”
Ford praised the university for its commitment to providing quality educational opportunities for students from all backgrounds.
“I’m so happy that Touro is working toward including everybody, and I want to congratulate the university on the implementation of these important programs,” he said.
About Touro's Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion