Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
AASLD’s Commitment To Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion
AASLD endeavors to create and support a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the association and all aspects of the hepatology continuum. Our specific areas of focus include:
- Improving diversity within AASLD membership and the hepatology workforce
- Ensuring equitable access to resources, involvement in AASLD activities, and opportunities for leadership
- Creating an environment where every member feels valued and respected and where those from underrepresented groups are involved in policy.
View a video message from AASLD’s Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
View AASLD’s statement on racism.
Current Initiatives
AASLD remains committed to doing our part to end inequalities and we continue to prioritize a diverse leadership and membership that reflects the populations we serve.
Leadership Diversity: 2022 Committee Composition
This year, we saw amazing participation in the committee nomination and applications for service process which resulted in 227 individual members being nominated or volunteering for service for 115 open positions on 24 committees.
The demographics of our appointees are:
- 63% female
- 50% first-time committee members
- 14% Black or African American, Hispanic, or Latino, or biracial
Healthcare Disparity Awards
Beginning in 2021, the AASLD Foundation Research Awards program began funding abstract travel awards for early career investigators performing healthcare disparities research. These Awards ensure that a significant portion of an early to mid-career investigators’ time is protected to further research in health care disparities for an overall goal of improving outcomes for underrepresented or underserved liver disease patients.
2021 Early Career Investigator Award In Healthcare Disparities
Recipients
- Mohammad Amin Fallahzadeh, MD, MPH, Baylor University Medical Center
- Dahn Jeong, MSc, University of British Columbia
- Margaret C. Liu, MD, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
- Alexandra T. Strauss, MD, MIE, Johns Hopkins University
- Nabeel Wahid, MD, Weill Cornell Medicine
For more details on their research, see the Foundation’s 2021 Abstract Award Recipients.
AASLD Foundation also supports outcomes-related research through the Research and Career Development program.
Additional Resources And Initiatives
- DE&I Whitepaper
- AASLD Journal Articles - a curated collection in honor of Black History Month 2022
- Books on Black Health and Wellness
- Origins of Black History Month
- AASLD Journal Articles - a curated collection in honor of Women's History Month 2022
- Women's History Month Resource Toolkit
- Women's History Month Poster Sets and Information
- Background on Black History Month 2022 theme and previous year's themes
- LGBTQ Task Force
- Women’s Initiative
- Health Disparities Awards
- Inter Society Group
Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Definitions
Diversity
Diversity encompasses the varying experiences, strengths, skills, perspectives, personal characteristics, cultures, and backgrounds represented by and within the AASLD community.
Equity
A commitment to equity means an environment where everyone has the opportunity and access to realize their full potential, and no one is disadvantaged because of their group identity or other socially determined circumstance.
Inclusion
The act of inclusion embraces and celebrates the perspectives, voices, values, and needs of each individual to generate a culture where all feel heard, respected, valued, and included in the broader AASLD mission.
AASLD Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Chair
Lauren Nephew, MD, MSCE
Board Liaison
Raymond Chung, MD, FAASLD
Staff Liaison
Marjorie Bynum, CAE
Members
Mohammed Hassan, MD, FAASLD
Alexis McCary, MD, PhD
Miguel Malespin, MD
Saikiran Kilaru, MD
Nazia Qazi, MD, FAASLD
Hoylan Fernandez, MD, MPH, Member
Amoah Yeboah-Korang, MD, MPH, Member