UNMC’s director of inclusion has been promoted.
Sheritta Strong, MD, has been named assistant vice chancellor of inclusion at UNMC, following a year in which the Office of Inclusion elevated campus conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion. The promotion was effective July 1.
Dr. Strong has served as director of inclusion since July 2020 and had been interim director since February 2020. She will continue to report to UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD.
"I’m thankful for all the change agents on campus," Dr. Strong said. "I appreciate everyone willing to be engaged in the conversation and part of the solutions that we need. I’m interested in having conversations with folks who feel left out of the conversation and being even more intentional with our actions to change metrics. This title change gives the position more credibility and our team more latitude to solidify – and elevate – initiatives."
"Dr. Strong has provided outstanding leadership as UNMC purposefully works to create and cultivate a more inclusive workplace," Dr. Gold said. "We all inspire a culture and society that encourages, respects and supports a growth mindset and, as health care educators, understand how critically important that is as we interact, treat and care for patients from all populations."
Dele Davies, MD, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, agreed. "Dr. Strong is known as the face of our inclusion efforts and has deftly led and guided the campus community through the sometimes difficult, but necessary, conversations to create a more inclusive culture. Under her leadership, UNMC is sure to make continued progress on campus and in the broader community."
The Office of Inclusion has built solid and collaborative relationships, Dr. Strong said, with diversity officers across the UNMC and NU system. In addition, the office has important partners on campus including the Office of Equity, McGoogan Library, Student Life Inclusion Diversity Office, Graduate Studies and Faculty Development, to name a few. Nebraska Medicine’s recently hired vice president-chief inclusion and diversity officer, Ada Wilson, JD, also is a new partner.
An Omaha native, Dr. Strong is a UNMC College of Medicine alum and 13-year faculty member in the UNMC Department of Psychiatry. She is an adult psychiatrist with primary interests in the treatment of chronic and persistent mental illness and minority-related mental health concerns. As an advocate in the community and for those affected by mental illness, she 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 has been the pre-clinical co-director of the phase 1 Neurosciences Block for more than 10 years, coordinating all aspects of pre-clinical psychiatry training at UNMC.
Being honored as a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, she also has been the recipient of several awards locally and nationally including the Urban League African American Leadership Award in Health, 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, MD Award, which is given to individuals who have made outstanding and sustaining contributions to medical student education.
Congratulations to a wonderful leader! Dr. Strong’s work is so important to the health of our community. Well done!
Congratulations, Dr. Strong!!
Congratulations, Dr. Strong!
Congratulations, Dr. Strong!
Congratulations!
Congratulations, Dr. Strong!
Congratulations, Dr Strong!
Congratulations Dr. Strong!!!
Congratulations, Dr. Strong!
Congratulations Vice Chancellor Strong!!
Congratulations Dr. Strong!
So great — Congratulations!
Congratulations Dr. Strong–UNMC is fortunate to have you!
Congratulations!
Congratulations! Well deserved!
Congratulations, Dr. Strong!! Well deserved and well done!
Congratulations, Dr. Strong! Thank you for all that you do for UNMC.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! YOU DESERVE IT!
Congrats Dr. Strong!
Congratulations! So great to work with you!
Congratulations Dr. Strong! That is well-deserved indeed!
Congratulations Dr. Strong!
Congratulations Dr Strong! Well deserved.
Congratulations Dr. Strong. Your work is sincerely appreciated and your promotion well deserved.
Congratulations Soror Sheritta! What an awesome honor!
Congratulations, Dr. Strong 🙂 beyond proud ❤️ Here's to this and to many more milestones to come!
I knew you have it in you I am so happy for you and I am so proud of all that you do. You are still sooooo young and your accomplishments have outshined the Sun.
Congrats so proud of you
Congratulations! Well deserved recognition for the work of you and your office.
Congrats Dr. Strong! You continue to make me so proud to see you move obstacles by doing meaningful and important things for tNorth Omaha, Omaha, and Nebraska . Tamara Bailey
UNMC and the Omaha community is fortunate to have you! Big congratulations and thank you for all that you do, Dr. Strong!
Outstanding work, Dr. Strong! You are a blessing to our community & we appreciate you!!
Congratulations Dr Strong!
Congratulations Dr. Strong!
Congratulations, Dr. Strong!!