A message from AGA:
In addition to reading our joint society pledge below, we encourage you to join your peers in a discussion led by Dr. Sandra Quezada, chair of the AGA Diversity Committee, in the AGA Community.
Joint GI society statement:
Dear Colleagues,
The U. S. is experiencing the tragic consequences of racism.
As health care providers, we have dedicated our lives to caring for our fellow human beings. Therefore, we are compelled to speak out against any treatment that results in unacceptable disparities that marginalize the vulnerable among us. As leaders of the four GI societies, AGA, AASLD, ACG and ASGE, we stand united in condemning racism, bigotry and discrimination based on race, religion, gender, country of origin and sexual orientation.
There is also a deeper pain that racism, coupled with the coronavirus pandemic, has revealed. COVID-19 has disproportionately harmed the health of many underserved communities. We realize, as a profession, that we need to better understand the effects of structural racism on health inequities. With this in mind, we pledge to continue to advocate for diversity in our staff and governance, grant awards to research health care disparities, ensure quality care for all and work tirelessly to reduce inequalities in health care delivery and access.
The reaffirmation of our shared values is more important now than ever before, as we strive for equity together.
AGA Governing Board
AASLD Governing Board
ACG Board of Trustees
ASGE Governing Board
