The Barbara Ross-Lee, DO Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award recognizes efforts to achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the graduate medical education (GME) community. This award celebrates initiatives in which diverse learners are developed, diverse faculties are constructed, and the GME community embraces differences and highlights them as examples of what is achievable. The award recognizes ACGME-accredited Sponsoring Institutions and programs, as well as specialty organizations working to diversify the underrepresented physician workforce and create inclusive workplaces that foster humane, civil, and equitable environments.

The award honors the most innovative and exemplary initiatives that drive diversity in GME. The award recognizes:

  • Innovation and excellence to identify and guide pre-resident learners into the field of medicine and biomedical research
  • Projects that address increasing recruitment and retention of diverse underrepresented residents, fellows, faculty members, and GME staff members
  • Efforts to promote inclusivity in the clinical learning environment

Award Winners

Barbara Ross-Lee, DO, speaks with William McDade, MD, PhD, about DEI efforts, the award, and her career in medicine.

Award winners are publicly honored for their achievement at the ACGME Annual Educational Conference, as well as on the ACGME website and in a press release. They will receive a commemorative plaque and be included in an award display in the ACGME office.

In these unprecedented times, the ACGME maintains and reaffirms its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This award allows programs, institutions, and organizations to share what they have done to move forward in this area.

The ACGME invites the nomination of programs, institutions, or specialty organizations for this award. Self-nominations are encouraged.

2023 Award Recipients

Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Family Health Center, Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Family Health Center, Family Medicine
The Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD)
The Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD)
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Past Award Recipients

2022 Award Recipients

American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

2021 Award Recipients

Emory University School of Medicine, Emergency Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine, Emergency Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine