ACCP invites you to attend DEIA-focused programming at the 2024 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. On Saturday, October 12, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., Drs. Sally Arif, William J. Moore, Jordan Rowe, and Kruti Parikh Shah will present a session titled “Longing for Belonging: Cultivating an Inclusive and Accepting Environment for All.” Developed by the DEIA Task Force, this session will describe the benefits of enhancing DEIA initiatives within the College and the profession to foster a greater sense of belonging and inclusion. With a focus on multi-partial moderation, which brings in multiple views, narratives, and experiences, the session is designed to cultivate an environment where everyone feels heard. This session will include a diverse panel of clinical pharmacists who will share how marginalization, stigmatization, and bias have affected their own personal and professional journeys. Alternative perspectives shared as part of ACCP’s DEIA member assessment will be incorporated into the session, and members with varied views on these topics are invited to attend and participate in the discussion. 

On Monday, October 14, from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., the DEIA Task Force will host an Affinity Groups Building Session. Affinity groups are intended to represent social identity frameworks rather than personal or professional interests (e.g., practice areas) and create additional opportunities for interaction with ACCP members who may have similar self-identified personal/social traits. Initial groups identified by the DEIA Task Force include Black or African American persons, Hispanic and Latino persons, Asian American and Pacific Islander persons, persons of Middle Eastern and North African descent, LGBTQIA+ persons, and persons with disabilities/chronic illnesses. The Task Force recognizes that this list is only a starting point and that other dimensions of diversity likely exist that will benefit from an affinity group in the future. Each of the initial groups will have a dedicated roundtable during this session to discuss workplace challenges, desired support and resources, expectations, and shared experiences. Roundtable discussions will help inform affinity group implementation within the College.