Society Resources on Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
CMSS Statements on Racism in Healthcare:
June 1, 2020:
With more than 800,000 physicians across 45 specialties, the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) deplores the negative impact of racism in our nation and of racial inequities in our healthcare system. Racism in our society cannot be ignored as it undermines public health. CMSS steadfastly supports its member specialty societies working to promote equity and reduce the adverse impact of racism. We are committed to using our platform to improve the health of every patient we serve.
February 22, 2021:
As the convener of the Organization of Program Director Associations (OPDA), CMSS is proud to stand with our specialty program director associations to condemn racism and discrimination. We are committed to the significant and sustained efforts that will be needed to achieve diversity, equity and inclusion in medicine and counter structural racism. We will support our member organizations’ efforts to drive measurable improvements in equity, build safe, inclusive and equitable learning environments, and combat racism in medicine.
Read the OPDA Statement issued February 22, 2021.
CMSS Initiatives:
- CMSS held a Special Session on Racism in Medicine to launch a collaborative on Anti-Racism for Specialty Societies. This session took place on October 28, 2020, and featured Rhea Boyd, MD, MPH (UCSF) as the keynote speaker, with discussion moderated by Patricia Turner, MD, MBA, FACS (American College of Surgeons).
Watch the Racism in Medicine session recording here.
CMSS Member Responses and Resources
CMSS is committed to supporting our member specialty societies and working together to promote equity and combat racism. Many of our 45 Member Societies have developed responses and resources specific to their specialty or subspecialty area, linked below. We will continue to update these resources as more are available.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- Video message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BawcSkEyYdY
- AAAAI endorses the CMSS Statement on Racism in Healthcare
American Academy of Dermatology
American Academy of Family Physicians
- https://www.aafp.org/media-center/releases-statements/all/2020/aafp-condemns-all-forms-of-racism.html
- Center for Diversity and Health Equity: https://www.aafp.org/patient-care/social-determinants-of-health/everyone-project/cdhe.html
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
- AAHPM Statement: http://aahpmblog.org/?s=racism
- DEI initiatives
American Academy of Neurology
- AAN Position Statement: Systemic Racism and Inequities In Society (June 4, 2020)
- Message from AAN President: Unrest in Minneapolis (May 29, 2020)
- You can also view the AAN’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion resources at AAN.com/EDI.
American Academy of Ophthalmology
- https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/statement-on-death-of-george-floyd-its-aftermath
- Statement on the use of rubber bullets: https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/statement-on-rubber-bullets-crowd-dispersion
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Academy of Pediatrics
- https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2020/american-academy-of-pediatrics-condemns-racism-offers-advice-for-families-for-how-to-talk-to-their-children/
- Talking to Children about Racial Bias: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Building-Resilience/Pages/Talking-to-Children-About-Racial-Bias.aspx
- The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/144/2/e20191765
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- https://www.aapmr.org/news-publications/member-news/member-news-details/2020/06/01/aapm-r-remains-steadfast-in-its-commitment-to-equity-inclusivity-and-respect-for-human-dignity
- AAPM&R endorses the CMSS Statement on Racism in Healthcare
American College of Cardiology
- https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2020/06/01/12/42/feature-black-lives-need-to-matter-examining-the-inequalities-within-medicine
- https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2020/06/01/12/42/cover-story-health-disparities-and-social-determinants-of-health-time-for-action
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics
- https://www.acmg.net/PDFLibrary/Message%20from%20the%20ACMG%20President-Overcoming%20Disparites.pdf
- ACMG endorses the CMSS Statement on Racism in Healthcare
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Physicians
- ACP Statement: https://www.acponline.org/advocacy/where-we-stand/racial-health-disparities-prejudice-and-violence
- More on ACP’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy: https://www.acponline.org/system/files/documents/about_acp/who_we_are/acp-diversity-policy-updated-july-2019.pdf
American College of Preventive Medicine
- https://www.acpm.org/news-publications/news/2020/letter-from-the-acpm-president-how-preventive-medi/
American College of Radiology
- https://www.acr.org/Member-Resources/Diversity-at-ACR
- https://www.acr.org/Media-Center/ACR-News-Releases/2020/ACR-Statement-on-Recent-Tragedies-and-Racial-Inequities
- ACR endorses the CMSS Statement on Racism in Healthcare
American College of Rheumatology
American College of Surgeons
- ACS Call to Action: https://www.facs.org/publications/bulletin-brief/060920/pulse#calltoaction
- ACS Committee on Trauma statement: https://twitter.com/bulgercot/status/1267922987438632961/photo/1.
American Epilepsy Society
American Gastroenterological Association
American Geriatrics Society
- Statement on Recent Race-Related Violence & Discrimination: https://www.americangeriatrics.org/media-center/news/we-denounce-race-related-violence-will-speak-out-against-discriminatory-policies
- Position Statement on Discrimination: https://www.americangeriatrics.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/Discrimination%20Statement_FINAL_06%2002%2020.pdf
American Medical Informatics Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Society of Anesthesiologists
American Society of Clinical Oncology
- https://connection.asco.org/blogs/responding-racism-and-health-inequality-cancer-care-community
- ASCO endorses the CMSS Statement on Racism in Healthcare
American Society for Clinical Pathology
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
American Society of Hematology
- https://www.hematology.org/newsroom/press-releases/2020/ash-cmss-statement-on-racism-in-healthcare
- ASH endorses the CMSS Statement on Racism in Healthcare
American Society of Nephrology
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Society for Radiation Oncology
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
American Thoracic Society
American Urological Association
Infectious Diseases Society of America
North American Spine Society
Society of Critical Care Medicine
Society of Gynecologic Oncology
- www.sgo.org/newsroom/news-releases/sgo-statement-on-racism-and-violence
- Promoting health equity in the era of COVID-19 Article in Press: https://www.gynecologiconcology-online.net/article/S0090-8258(20)31092-1/fulltext
- SGO endorses the CMSS Statement on Racism in Healthcare
Society of Hospital Medicine
- https://www.hospitalmedicine.org/about/history-mission/#Commitment_to_Inclusion
- Journal of Hospital Medicine article: https://www.journalofhospitalmedicine.com/jhospmed/article/223342/hospital-medicine/when-grief-and-crises-intersect-perspectives-black
Society of Interventional Radiology
- https://www.sirweb.org/advocacy-and-outreach/media/news-release-archive/commitment-diversity-060320/
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
- SNMMI endorses the CMSS Statement on Racism in Healthcare
Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Society for Vascular Surgery