As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., observed, “we may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now.”
Half a century later, the reverend could not have spoken more pertinent words. As America struggles with her diversity, it is fitting that physicians and healers express aspirations, dreams, and solidarity with everyone on our shared boat. Every day, people face stigma because of their appearance, accent, language barriers, and diverse world views. This stigmatization can impair access to quality health care.
This issue of the ASA Monitor is dedicated to diversity and inclusivity, especially in health care. We have chosen a variety of outlets to express our message including online, print, and podcasts.
We have a stellar group of contributors in this issue. Some share their personal experiences in the face of adversity, while others review personal efforts to bring about inclusivity. Demicha D. Rankin, MD,...