Endocrine Society Releases Statement Addressing Racism in Endocrinology

With structural racism hampering the push for equitable care in multiple disease states, the Endocrine Society has released a new statement addressing racism in endocrinology.

The statement, which was released on January 13, calls for new policies to address racial and ethnic inequities not only in access to care, but within the endocrine workforce.

“Health disparities are one of the most pressing issues facing science and medicine,” said Ruban Dhaliwal, MD, MPH, research physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, member of the Endocrine Society’s Advocacy and Public Outreach Core Committee, and chair of this policy initiative, in a statement from the Endocrine Society. “As endocrinologists, we have a responsibility to take actions to eliminate racism in our discipline and for our patients. The Endocrine Society has incorporated its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion into all facets of its education and advocacy initiatives and programming.”

Created as a collaborative effort between the Endocrine Society’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and Advocacy and Public Outreach Core Committee, the statement was composed by Dhaliwal and a team of 6 other co-authors from multiple institutions across the US. Co-authors included Rocio Pereira, MD, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Alicia Diaz-Thomas, MD, of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Camille Powe, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Licy Yanes Cardozo, MD, of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and Joshua Joseph, MD, of the Ohio State University College of Medicine.

As part of their undertaking, the authors aimed to outline multiple strategies for addressing racism within endocrinology. These strategies provide support for ensuring equal access to quality care for patients, building an inclusive and equitable endocrine workforce, and diversification of clinical trial participation as well as the research workforce.

Within their statement the Endocrine Society highlighted initiatives that are part of its ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. These include offering leadership training and mentorship to early-career clinicians through its Excellence in Clinical Endocrinology Leadership (ExCEL) program, developing the careers of minority scientists and clinician-scientists through their Future Leaders Advancing Research in Endocrinology (FLARE) program, and advocating for telemedicine reimbursements that continue beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement from the Endocrine Society also linked back to other health disparities resources, including a scientific statement on health disparities in endocrine disorders, patient resources, and a recent webinar on breaking down barriers to diabetes care.

This statement, “Eradicating Racism in Endocrinology: An Endocrine Society Policy Perspective,” was published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.