Diversity And Inclusion

In this exclusive video, Bishr Omary, MD, PhD, the president of the American Gastroenterological Association and Henry Rutgers professor of biomedical sciences at Rutgers University, discussed the joint statement released by various GI societies including the AGA, American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, American College of Gastroenterology and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. They pledged to work together and create guidelines to end racism and social injustice among GI practices.

The American College of Cardiology announced the launch of a program to promote the involvement of women and underrepresented groups in careers in clinical trial research.

I grew up the oldest of six children in a white family. During my first few years of life, my father attended medical school while my mother focused on raising us in St. Louis. Ms. Artie, our part-time nanny who was black, helped my parents care for us. To us, Artie was part of our family. We were taught to respect people, without regard to race, gender or religion.

Malcolm X said, “If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, that’s not progress. ... Progress is healing the wound that the blow made.” We are physicians, experts on attending to wounds. Yet we have not pulled the knife out the wound of racism. Many among us have not admitted the knife is there. Among those who see it there, many say, “It’s not my job.”

Diversity in medicine has demonstrated improvements in access to care among undeserved communities and may positively influence health care delivery, patient outcomes and public policy, according to a report in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Peter N. Slack, president and CEO of the Wyanoke Group, parent company of Healio, released a statement today saying the company stands with those who work for racial equality.

I am proud to lead a professional society, the American College of Gastroenterology, that will not stay silent when such horrific acts of hatred and discrimination occur.

Community racial/ethnic composition appeared associated with residents’ access to specific medications for opioid use disorder, according to results of a cross-sectional study published in JAMA Network Open.

William D. Chey, MD, from the Michigan Medicine Gastroenterology Clinic, Taubman Center at the University of Michigan, discusses in the fourth part of a five-part video series racial backlash as an Asian American physician during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current gender and ethnic diversity trends show women and ethnic minorities are significantly underrepresented in the physical medicine and rehabilitation medical education, according to demographic research.