Winston-Salem State University News March 22, 2016 WSSU Works to Diversify the Field of Health Sciences Winston-Salem State University's (WSSU) School of Health Sciences has set upon a goal of diversifying the field of Health professions in North Carolina and the nation. "North Carolina is among the most diverse states in the nation, yet minorities constitute only one out of six health professionals, and we are aiming to address this issue which extends beyond the state," Dr. Peggy Valentine, dean of WSSU School of Health Sciences. "Diversity in the health professions is paramount to the nation's need to eliminate inequities in the quality and availability of health care for underserved populations." One of WSSU's most recent efforts has been the signing of agreements with colleges that do not have programs that directly feed into the health professions, but offer majors in biology, chemistry, psychology, and social work - undergraduate degrees that offer a great fit for continued graduate work in health sciences. WSSU's graduate programs include health care administration, occupational therapy, physical therapy, rehabilitation counseling, and nursing. Since last spring 2015, agreements have been signed with Bennett College and Delaware State University, both Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCU). WSSU is looking to sign with more institutions. It was purposeful last year, when WSSU served as the host site for signing an agreement to formally launch a state-wide alliance to increase diversity in the health professions. Louis W. Sullivan, MD, former HHS Secretary and Chairman of The Sullivan Alliance to Transform the Health Professions, met with senior officials from the alliance that included 20 North Carolina colleges, universities, statewide organizations, as well as state and local health agencies. "We are delighted to work with colleagues from around the state to address this important issue," Valentine added. "As our state and nation become more ethnically diverse, we will need a health professions workforce that mirrors our population in an effort to reduce health disparities." Valentine is co-founder of that new academic and state agency partnership - The North Carolina Alliance for Health Professions Diversity (The North Carolina Alliance) - which aims to reduce disparities in health status and health care by increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the health care workforce in the state of North Carolina, thereby creating a future health care workforce that is increasingly proficient in cross-racial and cross-cultural interactions. The groups meets quarterly to share best practices for promoting diversity among students and faculty, and a biannual conference provides a forum to showcase efforts to increase diversity state-wide, Valentine said. Valentine says next steps are reviewing strategies and tracking progress on diversity in student and faculty recruitment and retention. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-592-4820 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.