(444) Strengthening Faculty Success: DEIA Initiatives at the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy

The University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy (UWSOP) has several initiatives underway that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism (DEIA) among its faculty. To support UW’s strategic plan of enhancing student success via increased global engagement, the SOP developed an Internationalization Task Force, fostering faculty exchanges with Cardiff University and organizing health equity-focused tours in the UK, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. The UWSOP Faculty Development Committee offers mini-grant funding to support travel and participation in these globalization efforts. The SOP hosts fellows from YSEALI (Young Southeast Asian Leadership Institute) and pharmacy faculty are mentors for this reciprocal research and leadership collaboration with University of Montana, UW Center for Global Studies and the State Department. On a national scale, the Health Equity Leadership Program, in partnership with Howard University College of Pharmacy, facilitates faculty and student exchanges to deepen understanding of healthcare equity issues in rural versus urban areas, which are then shared at professional meetings and within the respective university communities. Additionally, DEIA concepts are integrated into the PharmD curriculum and courses in the Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration program, and faculty teach interdisciplinary courses designed to address DEIA issues. One specific course taught by UWSOP faculty allows students the opportunity to hear firsthand from a panel of health sciences faculty regarding their experiences when DEIA affects healthcare provision, either as an individual from a diverse background or as a healthcare professional treating others. Other initiatives with community colleges are also being pursued to create inclusive educator learning communities. These important initiatives improve educator awareness of and engagement in DEIA and anecdotally improve job satisfaction and enhance student learning.