Why an AAP Statement on Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity Is Being Published and Needed More than Ever Before :

This week we publish an American Academy of Pediatrics statement on “Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity,” (10.1542/peds.2018-0193) one that was actually released last October by the AAP but not published in our journal until now. While the statement might be seen as one that you may have thought had always existed, it has philosophically, but given the issues we read about in the news sadly on a daily basis, there is a need to codify this philosophy and make sure it is incorporated by all of us who adhere to implementing the AAP’s mission each and every day in our interactions with patients, our staff, our communities, and each other. To further emphasize the AAP’s commitment to not just talking the talk, but walking the walk when it comes to equity, diversity and inclusion, AAP leaders led by its CEO Dr. Karen Remley and AAP Past President Fernando Stein along with Drs. Danielle Laraque-Arena and DeWayne Pursley have written a commentary (10.1542/peds.2018-0177) to describe the resources produced and strategies to be utilized by the AAP to promote and strengthen the message in the published statement. Please read both the statement and the commentary as a take-off point for your own reflection on what more each of us can be doing to celebrate our valuing of diversity, inclusion and health equity in all that we do as pediatricians and as members of society.