School of Medicine receives an Athena Swan Silver Award

The School of Medicine at the University of St Andrews has been granted the Athena Swan Silver Award.

The success in achieving Silver reflects the improved performance of the School in promoting the principles of the Athena Swan Charter and follows on from being awarded Bronze status in 2015.

The award recognises the Medical School’s continuing commitment to gender equality and marks a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to foster an inclusive School environment. It is the fourth School in the University to receive the Silver Award.

Commenting on the news, Dr John Winpenny said: “As Director of Inclusion for the School, I am delighted that Athena Swan (AS) has recognised the gender equality work that the School has done and continues to do with an Athena Swan Silver Award. The award covers the five-year period, 2023-2028.

“I now look forward to working with the Inclusion Committee and other colleagues in the School to enact our Athena Swan five-year Action Plan.”

Dr Winpenny added: “I am grateful to India Pinker, Dr Jane Illes and the central EDI team – Karen McGregor, Kathryn Herschell, and James Law – for all their help and advice in putting the School’s application together and for the support of Professor David Crossman, Dean of the Medical School”.

In a message to staff, Professor David Crossman said: ‘This is a wonderful achievement. It is externally validated evidence of the changes and efforts all have made in the
School around issues of gender and gender equality. I know we all share ambitions in this important area and as a result have driven change but it is nonetheless very good to have
external validation of what we are all doing and our efforts. Well done to everyone involved.”