Committed to Academic Excellence, Belonging, and Community-Building

The UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine received the 2026 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from Insight Into Academia magazine, the largest and oldest publication dedicated to best practices in higher education. 

This national honor celebrates U.S. colleges and universities that have demonstrated a deep, sustained commitment to fostering academic excellence, belonging, and community across all levels of campus life. From innovative recruitment and retention strategies to inclusive policies and leadership development, these institutions are setting a powerful example for higher education nationwide. Of the 19 recipients of this particular HEED Award, UC Davis was the only veterinary school in the nation recognized. Award recipients will be featured in the October 2026 issue.

“We take a detailed and somewhat holistic approach to reviewing each application in determining who will be named a HEED Award recipient,” said Lenore Pearlstein, Co-Publisher of the magazine. “Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where academic excellence and belonging are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”

“We are very proud to receive this recognition for the third year in a row,” said Dr. Karl Jandrey, associate dean of Admissions and Student Programs. “It shows that the entire SVM community values and lives our Principles of Community every day.”

See full list of award winners.