- @amergeriatrics reaffirms ongoing commitment to just healthcare system by opposing policies that aim to eliminate diversity in medical education in statement released today. https://ow.ly/Tyot50ReATK
New York (April 11, 2024) — The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) remains committed to achieving a just healthcare system where the care a person receives is responsive to their individual needs and offered with cultural humility.
AGS is increasingly concerned about the rise of federal and state laws attempting to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in health care and medical education which violates our freedom to have open conversations about these issues. We believe it is critically important that we incorporate the principles of health equity, geriatrics, and cultural humility into training of health professionals and that our current faculty receive the training they need to adequately support the next generation. Given the increasing diversity among older people and rapid growth of the older population, the healthcare workforce must both reflect and be better prepared to care for the populations that it serves. Our members know firsthand the negative impact that a lifetime of discrimination has on the health, well-being, and quality of life of older people.
AGS’ vision is a world where we are all free to be ourselves, able to contribute to our communities, and maintain our health, safety, and independence as we age. That world is one where every older person has access to high-quality, person-centered care that is free of all discrimination and bias and informed by geriatrics principles.
AGS will continue to oppose discriminatory policies—especially when they are perpetuated across the healthspan and lifespan—that can have a negative impact on public health for us all. We call on local, state, and federal elected officials and candidates for office to oppose discriminatory policies that aim to eliminate attention to diversity across health professional education and training and to enact laws that prepare a diverse workforce that has the skills and knowledge to support all of us as we age.
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About the American Geriatrics Society
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals that has—for more than 75 years—worked to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. Its nearly 6,000 members include geriatricians, geriatric nurses, social workers, family practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and internists. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy. For more information, visit AmericanGeriatrics.org.