Academic Medicine Open Forum

I've watched with horror and profound sadness as the shootings in Atlanta and Boulder have unfolded, and felt moved to share my heartfelt concern for everyone who has felt threatened by the increasing incidence of violence in our country, especially among the Asian American community. This violence goes against everything the AAMC stands for. It also makes our work together more urgent: to make the AAMC and our nation more diverse, inclusive, equitable, and antiracist; to end gun violence; and to invest in more mental health services to address rising rates of mental health afflictions.  

On that note, I wanted to share this AAMCNews piece, co-authored by my colleague @David Acosta, MD, AAMC chief diversity and inclusion officer, about what we call a "toxic brew" of factors contributing to this violence, and a few proposed avenues for addressing it. As always, I invite your thoughts and suggestions. Feel free to write to me here in the community or reply to this discussion thread directly.  

All best, 

David 

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David Skorton
President/CEO
Association of American Medical Colleges
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We call on our colleagues throughout health care, public health, business, and government to take action - starting now. As we have seen throughout the pandemic, America has so many good examples of people who care for each other during times of crisis. While there are vaccines now for COVID-19, the only cure for the hate that divides us is hard work by all of us and political will from our elected leaders. We cannot wait for more tragedies. 

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David Acosta
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Association of American Medical Colleges
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-25-2021 15:26
From: David Skorton
Subject: Healing a toxic brew of hate, racism, and gun violence in America

I've watched with horror and profound sadness as the shootings in Atlanta and Boulder have unfolded, and felt moved to share my heartfelt concern for everyone who has felt threatened by the increasing incidence of violence in our country, especially among the Asian American community. This violence goes against everything the AAMC stands for. It also makes our work together more urgent: to make the AAMC and our nation more diverse, inclusive, equitable, and antiracist; to end gun violence; and to invest in more mental health services to address rising rates of mental health afflictions.  

On that note, I wanted to share this AAMCNews piece, co-authored by my colleague @David Acosta, MD, AAMC chief diversity and inclusion officer, about what we call a "toxic brew" of factors contributing to this violence, and a few proposed avenues for addressing it. As always, I invite your thoughts and suggestions at AAMCPresident@aamc.org.  

All best, 

David 

​

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David Skorton
President/CEO
Association of American Medical Colleges
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