Where We Stand
The American College of Physicians is committed to combatting racial disparities that affect health and health care. This includes fighting the prejudice at the root of the problem, as well as the discrimination, inequities, violence and hate crimes that result from that prejudice. Racial disparities, discrimination, harassment and violence are public health issues. Evidence-based solutions are needed to combat the stressors that disproportionately harm racial and ethnic communities.
ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT
ACP’s Commitment to Being an Anti-Racist, Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Organization
The American College of Physicians (ACP) believes racism, racial disparities, discrimination, harassment and violence are all public health issues. ACP is committed to being an anti-racist, diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization.
- A Comprehensive Policy Framework to Understand and Address Disparities and Discrimination in Health and Health Care (2021)
In this policy paper ACP lays out a framework that confronts the various, interconnected, and compounding aspects of U.S. society that contribute to poorer health outcomes for persons based on their race, ethnicity, religious, and/or cultural identities.
- Understanding and Addressing Disparities and Discrimination in Education and in the Physician Workforce (2021)
ACP offers recommendations to create safe, inclusive, and supportive educational and workplace environments; to promote the diverse medical school bodies and workforces; and to support, fund, and strengthen education at all levels.
- Understanding and Addressing Disparities and Discrimination Affecting the Health and Health Care of Persons and Populations at Highest Risk (2021)
ACP makes recommendations to address disparities in coverage, access, and quality of care for racial and ethnic minorities, including expanding Medicaid and insurance marketplace subsidies, funding translation and patient navigator services, and supporting programs that place physicians in underserved communities.
- Understanding and Addressing Disparities and Discrimination in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Affecting the Health of At-Risk Persons and Populations (2021)
ACP calls for changes to criminal justice and law enforcement policies and practices that result in racial and ethnic disparities in interactions, sentencing, and incarceration and disproportionate harm to these communities.
- PolicyThe American College of Physicians’ Commitment to Being an Anti-Racist, Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Organization 2020
- Policy(From the ACP Ethics Manual Seventh Edition) Obligations of the Physician to Society 2019
- PolicyAddressing Social Determinants to Improve Patient Care and Promote Health Equity 2018
- PolicyPosition Statement on Recognizing Hate Crimes as a Public Health Issue 2017
Videos
I Cannot Be What I Cannot See: Time To Unleash A JEDI Healthcare Environment
A presentation by ACP Executive Vice President and CEO, Darilyn V. Moyer, MD, FACP, FRCP, FIDSA, describing actionable interventions to work towards achieving gender equity at the micro and macro levels for all underrepresented groups in healthcare.
A Historical Perspective of Medical Education for Black Physicians in the U.S.
ACP Board of Regents member, Ryan D. Mire, MD, FACP, provides a detailed history of medical education for Black physicians in the United States and the racial disparities physicians faced throughout several important time periods.
Dismantling Systematic Racism in US Health Care: The Role of ACP and Its Chapters and Councils
ACP recognizes that discrimination, racism, harassment, and violence against individuals on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, or country of origin is a public health issue. View this related Chapter Leader session that includes multiple learning modalities.
Latest Advocacy Efforts
- LetterJoint Letter to Congressional Leaders Urging Passage of H.R. 3838/S. 2415, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023 10/31/2024
- LetterACP Letter of Support for the American Privacy Rights Act 6/21/2024
- LetterJoint Letter to Senate in Opposition to Legislation Barring DEI Initiatives in Medical Schools 4/16/2024
Search the ACP Policy Library
To access everything ACP has said related to racial health disparities, search ACP's library of policy statements, copies of testimony, and letters to government and non-government officials.