A Message from the Chair of the Diversity Committee

Jennifer Edgoose, MD, MPH

As we mark the 400th anniversary of slavery in the United States, please consider reading the New York Times series “The 1619 Project” (PDF version) to help understand our current landscape of racial health inequities.  Structural competency requires that we develop an understanding of the historical cultural, political, and economic factors that shape our biases, both personal and institutional, that undergird the gross disparities we grapple with today.

One of its articles in the series focuses on racism in medicine:

• Myths about physical racial differences were used to justify slavery — and are still believed by doctors today

Notably the American Academy of Pediatrics has released a position paper on racism last month:

• American Academy of Pediatrics Addresses Racism and Its Health Impact on Children and Teens

The Wisconsin Public Health Association also released a 2018 resolution on racism as a public health crisis:

• Racism is a Public Health Crisis (PDF)

Please share any ideas or let us know how you’d like the DFMCH to further engage in these issues by emailing communityhealth@fammed.wisc.edu.

Thank you.

Jennifer Edgoose, MD, MPH
Chair, DFMCH Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee