As outlined in ACCP’s Strategic Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) plan, ACCP’s 2024 Task Force on DEIA was impaneled in the fall of 2023 and charged to provide input to the Board of Regents (BOR) on implementation of the DEIA plan.
The work of the Task Force included standing charges such as DEIA toolkit maintenance and review of applications/selection of recipients for DEIA travel awards, and additional charges were informed by the 2024 objectives in the DEIA plan. The Task Force was organized into three subgroups, each with a distinct focus: (1) resources and inclusion, (2) equity and awards, and (3) education. Each subgroup held several meetings and brought recommendations to the full Task Force for review, discussion, and consensus.
Highlights from 2024 Task Force recommendations and deliverables approved by the BOR include:
- Prompted an amendment to the ACCP bylaws converting the DEIA Task Force to a standing committee
- Implemented DEIA travel awards for students, trainees, and early-career practitioners who identify as underrepresented groups in order to minimize barriers to attending the ACCP Annual Meeting. The Task Force developed award criteria and reviewed applications and will select the final recipients.
- Developed a supporting rubric and process for a new ACCP award to recognize clinical pharmacist excellence in the advancement of diversity, health equity, inclusion, and accessibility. This DEIA award will be offered in 2025.
- Planned an Affinity Groups Building Session to be held Monday, October 14, 10:45–11:45 a.m. (MST), at the ACCP Annual Meeting in Phoenix
- Completed annual DEIA toolkit maintenance including a reference review to ensure the accuracy, currency, and accessibility of toolkit contents and to consider new additions. During this review, 3 references were removed and 25 were added, bringing the current total to 124 references.
- Provided recommendations for incorporating DEIA principles into ACCP Academy curricula to ACCP Academy directors
- Developed an educational session that describes the benefits of enhancing DEIA initiatives within the College and the profession to foster a sense of belonging and inclusion. Longing for Belonging: Cultivating an Inclusive and Accepting Environment for All will take place at the 2024 ACCP Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 12, 3:30–5:00 p.m. (MST), in Phoenix.
- Developed recommendations for two-way communication between the DEIA committee and ACCP communications
The Task Force will continue its work through the Annual Meeting, collaborating with the ACCP Awards Committee on efforts to continue to minimize the potential for bias in the ACCP awards process.
Interest in serving on the 2023–2024 Task Force was solicited as part of ACCP’s annual call for volunteers. In response to the high volume of interested members, BOR President Brian Hemstreet appointed the following 11 member volunteers:
- Deborah S. Bondi, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPPS (chair)
- Kazuhiko Kido, Pharm.D., BCCP, BCPS (vice chair)
- Maha Abdalla, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
- Sally Arif, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCP
- Deepali Bhandari, Pharm.D.
- Jenna F. Cox, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCCP
- Mary F. Hebert, Pharm.D., FCCP
- Rebecca Jayakumar, Pharm.D., BCIDP
- Shayna Rae Killam, Pharm.D., M.S.
- Lalita Prasad-Reddy, Pharm.D., M.S., FCCP, BCACP, BCPS, CDCES
- Jordan Rowe, Pharm.D., BCACP, BC-ADM
A 2024–2025 DEIA committee will be impaneled to continue this important work and identify new priorities from within and outside the ACCP DEIA plan. In parallel, ACCP staff will continue to implement operational components of the DEIA plan and provide ongoing progress updates to members.