Dr. Aaron Embry receives 2021 Excellence in Diversity Award at Seventh Annual Black History Month program

Jessie Bradley, MBA
February 26, 2021
The Medical University of South Carolina's Six Colleges & The Office of Student Programs and Student Diversity Present Turning the Page: The Emergence of Hope Black History 2021 7th Annual Virtual Awards Program February 26, 2021

For the last six years, the MUSC Office of Student Programs and Student Diversity and MUSC's six colleges have held their annual Black History Month program. This year, the program was held virtually due to COVID-19.

Six individuals, one from each college, were recognized with a 2021 MUSC Excellence in Diversity Award during the program. The honorees were nominated by their peers to recognize their contributions to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in their college and the community.

Nomination criteria for the MUSC Excellence in Diversity Award:

  • Instrumental in promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives within the College of Health Professions (CHP), their profession, or the community.
  • Has current or past ties to CHP and continues to impact diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Committed to reducing health care disparities and ensuring equitable treatment and care for all.

This year, the CHP Diversity and Inclusion Committee selected Aaron Embry, PT, DPT, to receive the award.

During the program, Leah Ellis, a third-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student, has this to say about Embry;

Aaron Embry 
Aaron Embry, PT, DPT

"Dr. Aaron Embry is a licensed physical therapist in the state of South Carolina currently employed by the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. He completed his master's and a doctorate of Physical Therapy as well as a master's in Clinical Research at the Medical University of South Carolina. Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate in the Health and Rehabilitation Science program in the College of Health Professions studying peak trailing limb angle and proposing symmetry in individuals with below-knee amputation. He has served on the college's Diversity and Inclusion Committee since its inception and holds positions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion work outside of the college and university.

Recently, along with a group of individuals from all rehabilitation professions, he cowrote the Black Rehabilitation Manifesto, a document that outlines the current state of rehabilitation from the perspective of Black professionals and patients. He currently serves on the Clemson Black Alumni Council Board of Directors and is on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association as the Immediate Past President. His professional and personal life maintains a strong passion for access, justice, and equity for underserved and otherwise overlooked individuals. He has a long history of work in advocacy and looks forward to many more challenges and opportunities at MUSC and beyond."

On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students in the College of Health Professions, we would like to congratulate Dr. Aaron Embry on this well-deserved award!

The video of the full program is available below. The introduction of Embry, followed by his remarks, begins at 24:21.