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NWHSU Race, Racism, and Integrative Care Conversation and Action

NWHSU Engages Our Community in Conversation and Action in Support of Black Lives, Inclusion, and Healthcare Equity

A Message from the President

Earlier in 2020, the Twin Cities and our nation were confronted with the killing of George Floyd. As people across the U.S. and around the world expressed outrage and concern, we renewed our commitment at NWHSU to educate ourselves regarding our unconscious biases and the racism that exists in our community. As an educational institution focused on maximizing health and well-being, we knew that we needed to take this transformational moment seriously. We don’t pretend to have all the answers about how to address the manifestations of this very complex issue in our personal and professional lives, but we do want to begin the conversation—however difficult it might be—so that we can learn from one another and grow to understand the diverse and intersecting set of challenges that we each face, both professionally and individually.

Toward that end, we have greatly expanded efforts to address diversity, equity and inclusion on our campus, and we are supporting work our faculty and university leaders have initiated within the community. We have renewed our efforts as an educational community to proactively educate ourselves regarding our unconscious biases. This webpage will keep you updated on those initiatives.

We also invited individuals from our various communities to share their views regarding systemic racism. Watch these videos and listen to the messages. These personal perspectives are sometimes painful, humbling, insightful and transformational. And they matter. Only through genuinely listening and learning from them can we begin the needed work to challenge racism in our lives, our systems, our institutions and our communities.

Please join our conversation on race, racism, and integrative care.

– Deborah Bushway, Ph.D., President and CEO of Northwestern Health Sciences University

Hear what NWHSU leaders, students, faculty, alumni, and friends have to say about race and racism in health care—and what it means for our professions, as well as our community.

Some shared their personal stories and experiences, while others focused on the connection between race and health disparities. But in each instance, the conversations were candid and reflective in ways that we hope will lead to a broader conversation and – most importantly – action.

An expert from Northwestern Health Sciences University discussed with Mpls.St.Paul Magazine how institutional mistrust in healthcare organizations is a devastating effect of the systemic racism experienced by the Black community. “Many African Americans are reluctant to fully engage with the healthcare system because of both personal and collective experiences.”

Read the Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Be Well article here.

In an effort to address inequities in access to wellness services, NWHSU leaders partnered with Minneapolis community leaders to create the Restorative Wellness Response (RWR). This initiative is part of our commitment to serving our communities in ways that support their healing and strength.

In July 2020, they hosted a self-care fair, a pop-up outdoor offering in the Powderhorn neighborhood in Minneapolis that included massage, acupuncture, chiropractic consultation, yoga, and mindfulness meditation, as well as food for the community and volunteers. In September 2020, they hosted another pop-up fair, collaborating with the Racial Agency Initiative and the Powderhorn Neighborhood Association in South Minneapolis to offer food, healing conversation, chiropractic consultations, massage and acupuncture to support healing and self-care in the neighborhood.

Both events were a resounding success and there is a clear need for more. The project is planned to run for three months, so we are in the process of envisioning future events designed to educate the community about these offerings and the importance of self-care and resilience, especially in these difficult times.

For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Michele Renee, D.C., M.Ac., Director of Integrative Care.

Restorative Wellness Response |

Racial Inequalities in Integrative Healthcare Policy Statement

This policy addresses racial disparities specifically in complementary and integrative care. NWHSU suggests several pathways for the integrative care community to create more equitable health and wellbeing for Black individuals and communities of color.

Racial Inequities In Integrative Healthcare (November 2020)

Listen to our policy experts discuss racial inequalities in integrative care with Integrative Practitioner their latest podcast here and read their interview on Committing to diversity and inclusion in integrative care.

“As a health science university, we recognize that Black people, along with Indigenous people and other people of color, experience profound health disparities in our country and many others. As an integrative health institution, we know that the varied social, cultural, mental, and emotional aspects of our lives all affect our health. Northwestern Health Sciences University’s mission is to prepare the next generation of health care professionals to deliver and advance health care. That preparation must include educating our students about racial health disparities and training them to offer excellent, respectful care to each of their patients and clients.”

Read the full statement (PDF): The Northwestern Health Sciences University Faculty Senate spoke out against the injustice of George Floyd’s murder and the broader pattern of unfair treatment of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color by police departments nationwide.

Join Our Conversation

Do you have a perspective on race, racism, or integrative care? Join our conversation. Each perspective that we hear helps broaden our understanding of our collective experience, and moves us closer to understanding and solutions.

Learn more about Diversity Initiatives at NWHSU

At NWHSU, we consider it our responsibility to ensure that we have an inclusive, diverse, and safe environment for all members of the University community and communities we serve. Our Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) plays an active role in cultivating inclusion throughout our campus community, offering perspectives on everything from the structure of academic classes to insights about unconscious bias and how it affects micro interactions in the hallways.

In addition to these efforts, NWHSU is committed to equitable patient-centered care, and cultural competence is a key factor in reducing health disparities (1). We are revitalizing our university-wide approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and have formed a Steering Committee to advise the President and CEO, as well as the Senior Leadership Team. Please contact Kim Pearce, vice president of academic affairs, for more information.

Shaping Our Culture: Diversity Scholarships

Our diversity scholarship programs – Diversity Scholarship for Incoming Students and Diversity Leadership Scholarship (for current students) – provide support for students who are committed to championing the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the healthcare professions. Interested in starting or donating to a Diversity Scholarship? Start here or give us a call at 952-885-5413.

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