The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recognized the Minnesota chapter’s work in equity, diversity, and inclusion at the recent Annual Leadership Conference at the AAP headquarters in Illinois on August 3 – 6.
Chapter President Eileen Crespo, MD, FAAP, (pictured on right) and President-Elect Katie Smentek, MD, FAAP, (picture on left) attended the conference and accepted the Inspire Award on behalf of the chapter.
MNAAP recognizes that racism and race-based violence create unsafe and unhealthy environments. Racism must be addressed on all levels: from racial inequities that are embedded in systems, policies, and practices to individual and professional accountability and transformation.
MNAAP’s efforts were prompted by the tragic murder of George Floyd in May 2020, and since that time the chapter has:
- established an anti-racism task force (which later formalized as the Anti-Racism & Disparities work group)
- appointed an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion chapter champion and added this role to the chapter’s executive committee
- endowed the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) fund which commits chapter financial resources to
- secured a consultant to review the chapter’s history and current operations to ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion guide decisions and initiatives
- looked for opportunities to amplify the work and voice of those actively working to dismantle systemic racism
