The "Awoke" AMA

We are amid a global social reset. Many countries including the US are trying to become more trans-culturally transparent by attempting to discard institutionalized biases & racism from all fronts of the socioeconomic spectrum. Also, along the same vein, corporations and profit and nonprofit organizations have begun to effectively address workplace inequalities while the healthcare industry is also trying to eradicate past healthcare inequities. 

     So given that premise, we’re all embarking on crucial conversations facilitating change with elevated empathy, sensitivity, and awareness of past poor systemic inequalities perpetuated by our so-called/racist systemic myopic biases infringing on minority &/or marginalized groups. 

Multicultural health disparities & access to care have been long overdue. Removing these stereotyped attitudinal beliefs and offensive cultural behaviors will require a huge concerted effort from all healthcare industry stakeholders. Putting into practice this fresh perspective will require the AMA to go beyond lip service to the patient community & us. 

    If they want to be viewed by industry and society as a vested leading humble organization as alluded to in their newly revised organizational diversity embracing organizational policies, then they must openly recognize two fundamental needs of the PA profession/community; namely: 

1. Recognize OTP (Optimum Team Practice ) 

 2. Recognize our new professional designation–Physician Associate 

Anything short of valuing interprofessional differences or seeking ways to grow and embrace their understanding & support of the PA profession would be hypocritical. Thus, failing to collaborate in building an industry culture where nonphysician providers are not empowered to bring their whole, authentic selves to the table, nor increase access to healthcare to vulnerable patient communities is disrespectful and downright non-inclusive. And worse yet, a flagrant discriminatory practice in the eyes of many non-woke physicians/APPs.

For PAs & APPs diversity, equity & inclusivity have been more than ideas, they have been part of our professional DNA and calling when providing care to our patients for the past 5 decades. 

Will the AMA abide by its own modernized organizational policies? Perhaps…only time will tell if they are as passionate about rebuilding and maintaining a team that is representative of this new paradigm where intolerance of any form of discrimination is openly rejected & ultimately condemned.