Task Force Splits into Subgroups to Create Proposals on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Report to the Board planned for the end of this month

The ACLP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Presidential Task Force—which started meeting in September 2020—has created subgroups to develop proposals on:

• The formation of underrepresented minority (URM) committees, subcommittees, or Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
• How to enhance DEI in ACLP membership, recruitment, leadership, and governance structure.
• How to further develop C-L Psychiatry’s scientific contributions to research and other scholarship regarding the role of systemic bias in health outcomes, including creating and disseminating a bibliography of relevant scholarly work.
• How to institute pipeline and URM mentorship programs.
• How to incorporate DEI into webinars, trainee and member curricula and education, and faculty development.

Kewchang Lee, MD, FACLP, chair of the task force, has also solicited input from the chairs and vice-chairs of ACLP’s committees, subcommittees, and SIGs on their groups’ thoughts, concerns, and recommendations about DEI issues. 

In November, the ACLP Board approved the task force’s request to develop a survey of the Academy’s membership to learn more about the diversity of its members, their perspectives on current DEI-related activities, their needs regarding DEI, and their ideas about how to enhance DEI within the Academy. ACLP will be hiring a consultant with DEI expertise who can advise on the survey, as well as conduct focus groups.

“The task force recognizes that systemic racism, sexism, homophobia/transphobia, and other forms of systemic bias and discrimination have demonstrably adverse health effects on our patients and reduce the professional and training opportunities available to our members,” says Dr. Lee.

“We also recognize the key role of C-L psychiatrists in translating our understanding of the psychological and structural harms of systemic bias into positive changes in medical practice, education, and systems of care. For this reason, the task force underscores the importance of ensuring the sustainability of the implementation of our recommendations.” 

The task force plans to submit its final report to the Board by the end of February.