ASHP Announces New Task Force on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Yesterday, the ASHP Board of Directors unanimously approved the creation of an ASHP Task Force on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to advise ASHP on specific, actionable steps to further address and take inventory of matters of racial diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“This important task force will place urgent attention on the range of current and historical issues affecting Black Americans, and assess issues of intolerance and inequity that impact other minority groups represented within the organization’s membership and the overall profession of pharmacy,” stated ASHP’s President Kathleen S. Pawlicki, M.S., R.Ph., FASHP.

“ASHP has a longstanding commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion,” said ASHP CEO Paul W. Abramowitz, Pharm.D., Sc.D. (Hon.), FASHP. “At a time when all organizations should be assessing their level of effort to combat disparities and injustice of every kind, our Board of Directors is prioritizing actions and solutions. The critical work of this task force will ensure that ASHP is maximizing its capacity to affect social change in the pharmacy community and beyond.”

The task force will be comprised of a Board-appointed group of primarily Black members of ASHP. The task force will also have a liaison member from the ASHP Board, ASHP Foundation Board, and include the ASHP President and CEO. The task force will begin its work by quickly assessing gaps and needs, and identifying actionable steps and solutions to create positive and sustainable change in many key areas within the scope of ASHP’s mission, including, but not limited to:

• Governance and Committees such as the ASHP and ASHP Foundation Boards of Directors, Commissions, Councils, Sections and Forums, House of Delegates, and other ASHP advisory bodies
• Education and Training
• Research
• Advocacy
• Publications
• Marketing and Communications

“The events that have unfolded over the past several days in response to the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and too many others, express the true urgency for individuals, communities, and organizations of all types to prioritize actions that lead to change,” continued Abramowitz. “We all must do better to combat intolerance of all forms and end the systemic racism at the heart of social injustice and inequality.”