Alberto Velasco, a third-year student at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, received the 2023 Individual DEI Unification Award from the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) during the OMED 2023 conference.
Velasco started the groundbreaking program, JEDI, which stands for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, on the campus of the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. JEDI challenges students to quantifiably participate in DEI initiatives. Velasco has also worked with students from other colleges of osteopathic medicine to launch their own versions of JEDI, creating a sense of unity across the medical education community.
Velasco has actively promoted diversity within healthcare, volunteering his time in community outreach programs and advocating for underrepresented minorities in the field.
His acknowledgment at OMED 2023 highlights the importance of individual efforts in creating a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system. Velasco’s dedication serves as an inspiring example for students and professionals in the osteopathic medicine community, emphasizing the need for continued commitment to diversity and inclusion in healthcare.
To learn more about JEDI: https://burrell.edu/students/organizations-and-outreach/jedi/
