Dear Colleagues,
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 are providing some Diversity Resources 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, PhD, Council Member
