Did you know that in the 2019-2020 academic year, only 8.7% of enrolled medical students identified as Black or African American? Recently, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) released a podcast looking at the history of systematic racism in academic medicine. In “Diagnosing Our National Disease,” AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, discusses the experiences of Black Americans in medical school, clinical care, and research with Lonnie G. Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. I urge you to take the time to listen to the 30-minute podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, and other podcast services.
In addition, I would love to hear your feedback on “42 Ways to Advance Racial Equity in Academic Medicine,” a piece I co-authored for KevinMD.com. My co-authors and I discuss the systematic racism in higher education, and how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the health inequities of minority groups. The article lists 42 steps that each one of us can take to advance racial equity. As you read the list, consider what actions you can introduce to improve “the health and well-being for all.”
Thank you for your dedication to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our department’s culture.
Sincerely,
Inginia Genao, MD, FACP
Associate Chair, Diversity & Inclusion