New program salutes Gators making impact in their communities, industries and on campus
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Madeline M. Joseph, M.D., FAAP, FACEP, the associate dean for inclusion and equity at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville and a professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics is one of 16 honorees named to the University of Florida’s inaugural class of Gator Nation LeaDErshIp (DEI) Award winners, UF officials announced. The DEI awards recognize alumni, students and university employees who are championing diversity, equity, inclusion-related issues and social justice efforts in their communities, industries and on campus.
This year’s honorees were chosen from a large pool of applicants representing dozens of companies, civic groups and UF academic and support departments. Honorees were recognized in one of five categories: volunteer service, industry achievement, young alumni, philanthropic support and university community. The DEI Leadership celebration for 2022 took place on campus on May 20.
“These DEI leaders represent the best of us — women and men who put words into action for the greater good,” said Brian Danforth, executive director of the UF Alumni Association. “They’re on the frontlines creating opportunities, building bridges and tearing down walls. These 16 honorees, and thousands more Gators like them, truly are making the world a better place for all of us.”
Among this year’s honorees are business executives and entrepreneurs, community activists, journalists, scientists and attorneys.
Joseph spearheads inclusion, diversity, equity and access initiatives at the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville to cultivate a culture of inclusive excellence. She worked to establish the Women in Medicine and Science group where she facilities opportunities for all women in medicine and science, so they can thrive and succeed in their careers.
Beyond the Jacksonville campus, Joseph works closely with colleagues at the University of Florida as well as at the state and national levels to advance inclusion, diversity and health equity endeavors. She has represented the UF College of Medicine on the UF at Large Campus Diversity Liaisons and on the UF Health Science Center DEI Committee since 2019. In 2020, she became one of the faculty involved with the first UF Antiracist Action Boot Camp and served as a moderator for four weeks for the Antiracist Action Working Group for Early Career Scholars.
Joseph is involved with many other university initiatives including the Fairness and Equity in Assessment Task Force, Model Development Group, Chief Diversity Officer Search Committee, UF Health Artificial Intelligence Steering Committee, UF Aspire/SEA Change Executive Committee and the newly developed UF AAAS SEA Change Biomedicine Self-Assessment Group.
At the state level, Joseph is the co-chair of the newly developed Council of Florida Medical School Deans Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group and is organizing many DEI efforts, with the initial focus on the health care workforce in Florida. At a national level, Joseph was chosen to participate in the competitive 18-month Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Equity Matters-DEI Leadership Fellowship Program, which will end in December of 2022. In addition, Joseph serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics Board of Directors Committee on Equity, which aims to advance the health equity agenda for children across the nation.
Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion is a longtime priority at the university. Colleges and departments across campus have created task forces and adopted programs to make UF a higher education leader in DEI, while also encouraging alumni and students to be advocates.
The 169-year-old University of Florida has more than 450,000 alumni residing in every U.S. state and in more than 150 countries. The university has a long history of established programs in international education, research and service, and is one of only 17 public, land-grant universities in the prestigious Association of American Universities. It is ranked No. 5 in the most recent U.S. News and World Report’s list of public universities. The UF Alumni Association is responsible for a network of nearly 100 Gator Clubs, is actively involved with the recruitment of superior students, and hosts outreach and on-campus programs to connect alumni with their alma mater. To learn more, visit ufalumni.ufl.edu.