Dr. Strong named UNMC interim director of inclusion

UNMC is pleased to announce that beginning Feb. 1, Sheritta Strong, M.D., will become the interim director of inclusion at UNMC, reporting to Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.

“We are delighted that Dr. Strong has agreed to serve UNMC in this very important role,” Dr. Gold said. “She has just the right complement of skills, experiences and connections to our communities to be the ideal candidate to help UNMC meet our goals in the areas of inclusion and to collaborate with all of our sister campuses and our central administration leaders in the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) areas.”

“As announced last week, the UNMC and UNO campuses expressed aspirations that each campus will pursue its own unique challenges and opportunities in its commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Dr. Gold said. “Therefore, we decided to end the search for a combined position of assistant vice chancellor for inclusion serving UNO/UNMC and build upon the strengths of each campus, our sister campuses and our central administration DEI areas of excellence.”

“I am honored to be appointed the interim director of inclusion,” said Dr. Strong, who was recently honored by being designated a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (DFAPA), the highest honor of the APA. “With my work in mental health and higher education, I bring a unique perspective regarding the emotional health aspects of further cultivating an inclusive and diverse campus.”

Dele Davies, M.D., senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, applauded the news of Dr. Strong’s appointment.

“I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Dr. Strong for the past eight years,” Dr. Davies said. “She is clearly devoted to a welcoming culture at UNMC and will be invaluable to us as we continue toward our strategic goals of diversity, inclusion and equity for our faculty, staff and students.”

An Omaha native and an 11-year faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Strong is an adult psychiatrist with primary interests in the treatment of chronic and persistent mental illness. She is an advocate for those affected by mental illness and is passionate about reducing barriers to quality care by increasing community awareness of mental illness and its impact on our society.

Dr. Strong is a leader in undergraduate medical education at UNMC. She is co-director of medical student education for the department of psychiatry, coordinating all aspects of pre-clinical psychiatry training at UNMC.

Dr. Strong said she believes that by continuing to build a culture of kindness, teamwork and accountability within our campus, we can welcome more diversity, in our students, staff and faculty.

She said she recognizes the importance of diversity of thought in creating a more inclusive and diverse environment through relationship building within the organization and the greater Nebraska community.

“An environment based on individuals feeling comfortable to be themselves, regardless of their background or experiences, is a place where we all want to work and prosper,” she said.

“As we recruit and retain the finest learners and graduates, I understand that tapping into an amazing sphere that desires a space to grow and hear from a variety of perspectives is integral to our success as a unit,” Dr. Strong said. “I invite everyone to engage in UNMC’s strategy of being an exemplary culturally sensitive, diverse and inclusive organization.”

Dr. Strong has been the recipient of several awards locally and nationally including the Women in Medicine Award from the National Coalition of Negro Women, the UNMC Alumni Early Career Achievement Award, and the American Psychiatric Association’s Nancy C.A. Roeske, M.D. Award, which is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding and sustaining contributions to medical student education.

Dr. Strong is a member of the Nebraska Psychiatric Society, the National Medical Association, the Omaha Chapter of the Links, Inc., and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Strong can be followed on Twitter.