@David Skorton, MD, and AAMC Board Chair Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, challenged physicians and scientists from U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals earlier today to work collectively to improve the health and mental well-being of colleagues and communities.
Skorton highlights four concerns that "keep me up at night":
The need to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. "The health inequities that have long plagued our health system are rooted, in part, in bias, discrimination, and systemic racism," he told the audience. "And it is our responsibility in medicine to address these issues whenever we have the opportunity. Not only because we have to in a professional capacity, but because we have to as human beings." In academic medicine, a successful journey toward justice means diversifying medical school classes, faculty, and staff, and optimizing the culture and climate of academic medical institutions so that every individual has the opportunity to excel, Skorton said.
The deterioration in the well-being of students, due to financial as well as social and academic pressures. "Depression and therefore the risk of suicide is more common among medical students than their age-matched peers, and this trend has worsened in the last few years," Skorton said. He called on academic medicine leaders to identify and address the problems contributing to student stress, as well as improve access to behavioral health care for all who need it.
Increasing threats to the doctor-patient relationship. This has manifested itself most recently in the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, which has jeopardized access to reproductive health care for millions of people. "I am not here at this moment to argue the merits of access to abortion," Skorton said. "I am here to argue that legislation or judicial opinions that interfere with the relationship between physician and patient, especially if they go as far as intimidating the clinician in the exercise of good clinical judgment, are unacceptable. We must stand firm. We must protect this relationship."
The value of free speech and the need to listen to divergent viewpoints. "Let's challenge ourselves across ideologies to be humble, to be kind, to be empathetic, and to be respectful, and to actively listen and truly be open to other opinions, even if they are different from our own." At the same time, he urged the audience to speak out against "intentional and inflammatory disinformation" and to condemn "hate speech, racist speech, or speech that incites violence, including violence against health professionals."
"As in all of the other issues that keep me up at night, the issue of free speech requires our collective action now. The health and mental well-being of our communities and our colleagues are at stake. Through meaningful, open, and honest dialogue, partnership, and collective action, we can and will tackle these problems in service of the greater public good."
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I don't know about you, but I left the session feeling excited about the work ahead and ready to get back to Washington, D.C. to start that important work! What were your takeaways from the session? Any "a-ha" moments?
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Stephanie Weiner
Director, Digital Strategy & Engagement
Association of American Medical Colleges
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