Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Position Statements & Resources

Given the wide use of genetics in many medical and science disciplines, and the inaccurate historical association between race and genetics, it is critical that all clinical trainees and healthcare professionals understand the ways that policies, social and structural inequities (including but not limited to racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, and disability bias), communication, and cultural context shape the equitable implementation of genomic medicine for all. It is also imperative to recognize the historical roots of the biased systems in which we work, the ways in which scientists and clinicians practicing genetics contribute(d) to the healthcare disparities that emerged from these systems, and the responsibility we all share to dismantle these systems of oppression through equitable patient care, advocacy, research, and education. A clear understanding of this context along with a solid foundation in genetics and genomics will help to disentangle biological factors from social and cultural factors that contribute to health, disease risk, and outcomes, which will lead to more precise, individualized, and ethical patient care. We provide the position statements and accompanying resources below to help our community of educators to train a more inclusive genetics healthcare workforce and to broadly promote equity and inclusion.

Racial Equity Resources

APHMG Statement on Racial Equity (PDF, June 9, 2020)

I write to you today during a time of unprecedented loss. In the midst of a global pandemic, senseless deaths due to structural racism and police brutality continue. Our collective grief rages as our core values of equity and inclusion are challenged by events we see play out far too frequently, especially in the Black community, and most recently involving George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.

As our nation struggles to find our way out of darkness and towards a more just society, we scientists, clinicians, and educators seek ways to turn anguish into action. We must unite to condemn racism, but that response alone is inadequate. We must also empower our community to acknowledge privilege for those who benefit from it and to help disseminate tools to dismantle structural racism. Some of that will come in the form of the educational programs we lead. Geneticists are in the unique position of being able to underscore our common humanity with evidence from our collective genomic history. It is up to us to create inclusive training environments where these topics are explored and used to shine a light on systems of care in our country.

APHMG is in the midst of establishing a series of new committees in our organization, and we will be seeking volunteers soon to help us do the important work of outreach and engagement with genetics educators and trainees of color. In the meantime, we ask you all to carefully consider how your classrooms and clinics can promote the ideals of inclusion in order to work towards eliminating healthcare disparities. We provide some resources below to help you get started on this critical call to action. Most importantly, we remain committed to healing and learning together, and we welcome your thoughts and additional suggestions.

Yours in Solidarity,

Shoumita Dasgupta, PhD, President

Katherine M. Hyland, PhD, President-Elect

Cynthia M. Powell, MD, Past President

Steve Moore, PhD, Secretary/Treasurer

Kathryn Garber, PhD, Council Member

Anna C.E. Hurst, MD, MS, Council Member

Hope Northrup, MD, Council Member


Resources:

              Reproductive Health Resources

              APHMG Statement on Reproductive Health (PDF, September 8, 2021)

              Central to the goal of achieving equity in healthcare is access to both services and information on medical options. With the recent events surrounding Texas law SB8, these foundational principles of equity are threatened for pregnant people considering abortions, with a disproportionate health impact on marginalized people of color, people of limited means, and other vulnerable populations who already are the most burdened. Importantly, these developments may also pave the way for wider restrictions on pregnancy termination and reproductive care throughout the country, making it a critical issue of social justice.

              As geneticists, we recognize that reproductive care is healthcare and that pregnant peoples' rights are human rights. As educators, it is our mission to train the next generation of providers, and these providers must be free to provide patient-centered healthcare of the highest quality that best suits the patient and their needs. Patient-centered care has long been a principle of genetics consultation, and in this climate, it is especially important that our classrooms and clinics serve to inform trainees about the ways in which the timing and approach to genetic services impact the ability of pregnant people to make informed decisions that best align with their personal situations. Notably, the vast majority of our trainees have never lived in an America without the protections of Roe v. Wade, thus it is the responsibility of those of us with perspective on the numerous harms that can result from the erosions of reproductive freedom to initiate the conversations with our trainees.

              Here we have compiled a list of resources that can provide some tools to learn and teach about patient-centered care, intersectionality and its intensification of healthcare disparities, and a role for providers in patient advocacy. We hope these resources will help you get started on this critical call to action. Most importantly, we remain committed to working and learning together, and we welcome your thoughts and additional suggestions.

              Yours in Solidarity,

              Shoumita Dasgupta, PhD, President

              Katherine M. Hyland, PhD, President-Elect

              Cynthia M. Powell, MD, Past-President

              Steve Moore, PhD, Secretary/Treasurer

              Deborah Barbouth, MD, Council Member

              Kathryn Garber, PhD, Council Member

              Anna C.E. Hurst, MD, MS, Council Member


              Resources:

              Gender Inclusivity Resources


              APHMG Statement on Gender Inclusivity (June 29, 2022)

              In order to effectively deliver patient-centered care, a provider must build trust with their patients. This keystone of quality patient care is jeopardized when a patient’s identity has not been seen and affirmed. Unfortunately, the LGBTQ+ community has continued to have their very existence questioned and threatened in public discourse, thereby amplifying healthcare disparities experienced by gender- and sexually-diverse individuals. With recent events restricting gender affirming care and limiting acknowledgement of the fundamental existence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, non-binary and other LGBTQ+ community members, these foundational principles of equity are threatened for the entire community. Furthermore, an understanding of intersectionality also demonstrates disproportionate health impact on LGBTQ+ people of color, people of limited means, and other vulnerable populations who already are significantly at risk. Importantly, as gender affirming care is an issue with a basis in bodily autonomy, other issues that impact agency over one’s own body, such as restrictions on pregnancy termination and reproductive care throughout the country, can magnify concerns of bodily autonomy for the LGBTQ+ community.

              We recognize that all patients deserve access to quality, affirming healthcare. As geneticists, we know that the language of hereditary is highly gendered and heteronormative. As educators, we know that we can help the next generation of providers adopt language and perspective that does not limit itself to these frameworks. Patient-centered care is one of the foundational elements of genetics consultation, and in this climate, it is especially important that our classrooms and clinics work against growing discriminatory practices.

              This work builds upon the resources we have previously compiled to promote racial justice and equity in reproductive health practices. It also grows from our session on “Gender Inclusivity in Medical Genetics Education” held during our virtual joint meeting with ABE in 2021 and our in-person workshop on “Bringing Gender Inclusivity Into the Classroom: Why and How” conducted at our 2022 Palm Springs conference. At this time, the necessity to further promote equitable and inclusive education on these topics has only grown more urgent. Below we have compiled a list of resources that can provide some tools to learn and teach about the differences between sex and gender, the ways in which sex impacts molecular genetic phenomena and inheritance, and a framework for presenting these topics that are inclusive of all identities. We hope these resources will help you continue in your own work on this call to action. Most importantly, we remain committed to working and learning together-- not just during this Pride Month, but also moving forward-- and endorse practices promoting inclusion and justice for all. Thank you for joining us in this critical effort.

              Onward Together,

              Shoumita Dasgupta, PhD, Past-President

              Katherine M. Hyland, PhD, President

              Steve Moore, PhD, President-Elect

              Anna C.E. Hurst, MD, MS, Secretary/Treasurer

              Deborah Barbouth, MD, Council Member

              Kathryn Garber, PhD, Council Member

              Lois Starr, MD, PhD, Council Member

              Resources:


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