Shawna Nesbitt

Shawna Nesbitt, M.D., M.S., an accomplished physician, educator, researcher, and leader, became Vice President and UT Southwestern’s inaugural Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer in October 2022.Dr. Nesbitt leads institution-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies and initiatives by designing and implementing programs that advance UTSW’s mission across research, clinical, education, and training activities and other operations.Since joining the UT Southwestern faculty in 2001, Dr. Nesbitt has held various DEI leadership roles and responsibilities, including serving as a member of the President’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion and as Associate Dean of Student Diversity and Inclusion. As Associate Dean, she led UT Southwestern’s Medical School, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and School of Health Professions teams in diversity and inclusion efforts.In addition, Dr. Nesbitt has been the Medical Director of the Parkland Hypertension Clinic and has served as a community health equity advocate on a variety of boards and national studies and frequently speaks on topics of hypertension, DEI, and health equity. She brings a deep understanding of UT Southwestern and the complexities of a large, growing academic medical center to her role.She earned her medical degree at Hahnemann University College of Medicine (now Drexel University College of Medicine) in Philadelphia. After an internship and residency in internal medicine at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, she underwent fellowship training in hypertension in the Department of Internal Medicine at University of Michigan Medical Center. She also has a Master of Science degree in clinical research design and statistical analysis from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.