"We're Sorry" - The American Medical Association Offers Apologies for Past Racism in the Form of Exclusion

Heathcliff Huxtible would be proud.

A practice of institutionalize racism within their organization was acknowledged this month by leaders of the American Medical Association, a practice that potentially created a health care deficiency in many Black communities. In a press release dated July 10th, the AMA makes this statement:

The American Medical Association (AMA) today apologizes for its past history of racial inequality toward African-American physicians, and shares its
current efforts to increase the ranks of minority physicians and their participation in the AMA.

(Read the entire press release here)

The statement comes in response to an ongoing study that began in 2005 by an independent pannel of experts specifically studying racial disparities in organized medicine. The findings of the study are available here on the AMA Website. In a proactive attempt to bridge the gap of racial disparity, the AMA formed the Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC), a philantropic organization aimed at funding through scholarships initiatives that tackle the problem of racial disparities in medicine. In 2008, 12 medical students were awared scholarships in the amount of $10,000 to fund such projects.
For more information please visit the AMA website.

Sources and more information:

• http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008051394_soldiered15.html
  
• http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/18773.html
  
• http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5joM2ksMOS3Fis47TrUdAIEuPghrwD91R73480

Social Angst Commentary:

The first step to recovery is admitting there is a problem.
Thoughtfully appreciate the apology and impress upon the medical students in your life to utilize the opportunity.


Peace and Blessings...