Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We are witnessing an unprecedented time of national and local reckoning of historical and ongoing racial injustice.
The violent death of George Floyd (and an unthinkable number of other black and brown individuals) at the hands of police, viewed around the globe and in the context of racially biased law enforcement, counters our every instinct as physicians. The devastating and disparate impact of COVID-19 on Latinx, Black, Native, Samoan and other populations is one of the many other effects of systemic racism and social injustice. SFPC has long been committed to serving traditionally marginalized patients in clinic, the hospital, and in our community. Now, we recommit to working to end health care disparities and racism.
At the heart of SFPC’s program is developing an understanding of the structural and systemic causes of health disparities through our long standing health equity didactic curriculum. In partnership with our division’s researchers and clinican educators, we dissect complex issues including racial segregation, food insecurity, inadequate housing, language and cultural barriers, incarceration, substance use, trauma, and poverty. We create physicians who are outstandingly well trained in all facets of primary care social medicine—able to recognize, address, care and advocate for individual patients while also equipped with the tools to improve the health of populations.
SFPC is proud to recruit a racially, ethnically, and socially diverse group of residents. It is not, however, enough to simply recruit students from diverse backgrounds. We strive to support and be keenly aware of each individual’s personal history as valuable and trusted members of our community. As the program director, I am committed to creating the inclusive environment that not only creates and supports our residents to become exceptional clinicians, educators, researchers, and leaders, but also supports each resident in their journey.
If you are motivated to be a physician for social change and wish to join a diverse, inclusive, joyful and dedicated group of residents, staff and faculty, we invite you to get to know our program. We only wish we could introduce you to our equally amazing patients. That may need to wait for another time. But for now, do not hesitate to reach out to me or any of our division members.
With best wishes,
Joanie Addington-White
Director, SFPC
Other University and residency initiatives focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: