WDS Diversity and Racial Inequality Statement
June 8, 2020
The Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS) is committed to issues relevant to women and their families. In this time of nationwide suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest due to police brutality, we must acknowledge the long history of systematic racism that is harming and killing Black Americans. We must recognize the psychological and physical impacts on the well-being of our patients of color and also our Black colleagues. We must commit to no longer staying silent and to eliminating racial bias. Thus, we stand in solidarity in the fight to end racial inequality.
Further, the WDS Diversity Committee is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of dermatology. This committee initially began 2 years ago as a task force to address the unacceptably low percentage of under-represented minorities (URM) in medicine in the field of dermatology. Below we list current action items the WDS Diversity Committee has implemented to address increasing underrepresented minorities in dermatology:
- The appointment of the Diversity Committee of the Women’s Dermatologic Society as an official committee of the WDS
- The WDS Summer Research Fellowship awarded to URM students to support completion of a full time research plan over the summer under mentorship from a WDS member
- Annual Diversity Breakfast for URM medical students to network with resident and dermatologist members of WDS
We also encourage our colleagues to share the following resources to help spread awareness:
International Journal of Women’s Dermatology (IJWD) Articles
If you want to be it, it helps to see it: Examining the need for diversity in dermatology
Supporting underrepresented minority women in academic dermatology