January 15, 2021

2021 UW Health Sciences Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award

The UW School of Nursing is proud to announce that the 2021 UW Health Sciences Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award goes to volunteer street medics, especially the nurses and nursing students who served on the frontlines of protests calling for racial justice this year.

“Nurses led the way as hundreds of street medics provided first aid to those injured during the Black Lives Matter protests in Seattle and across the nation last summer. This award recognizes their unique combination of compassion, concern, commitment, and bravery as they provided care under difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances,” said Dr. Azita Emami, executive dean of the UW School of Nursing. “Please join me in recognizing the important role they have in keeping those who stand for racial justice safe.”

Each year, UW Health Sciences schools pay tribute to Dr. King by honoring a member or group from among its students, staff, faculty, or broader connected community who exemplify Dr. King’s principles through a commitment to addressing community needs, particularly for communities of color or low income, development and implementation of significant programs to improve the human condition, and outstanding efforts to protect and empower all individuals. This year’s award theme is “Where do we go from here?”

A website celebrating Dr. King’s legacy recognizes members from our own community who have committed themselves to lives of service. Although this year we cannot gather together to celebrate at a public event, this website helps to continue our tradition of sharing inspiring stories and powerful music, bringing forward a sense of hope and unity. We invite you to take a few minutes to peruse the list of all of the recipients and join us in congratulating them: www.uwmedicine.org/mlkday2021.