Like so many people across our country, we have been discouraged and dismayed by recent events involving loss of life, injustice, and mistreatment of marginalized groups. As a program, we all agreed that we needed to make a change and do something in response to be a force for good and for change in our community. We discussed how privileged we are in many different ways and how we can feel guilty for that or we can use our privilege to amplify the voices of others. Out of these conversations, our diversity and inclusion initiative, Allies for Change, was created. The purpose is to have a space in our clinic where we can educate ourselves, where we can have open and fruitful dialogues, and that we can all grow, as individual people and as a clinic.
Through Allies for Change, we host lunch and learns on topics like implicit biases, education on and celebration of different cultures and holidays like Diwali or Latinx Heritage Month, a commitment to seek out continuing education in social determinants of health and underserved populations, dedication to diversity in recruiting, and quality improvement projects.