ASHP seeks to increase racial diversity in the pharmacy profession.

In June, the ASHP Board of Directors unanimously approved the creation of an ASHP Task Force on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to advise ASHP on specific, actionable steps to further address and take inventory of matters of racial diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization’s membership and overall profession of pharmacy. ASHP had a very positive response from members expressing interest in serving on this task force and many others who showed support for ASHP’s leadership in helping to make positive and sustainable change in the area of racial diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially on issues facing black, Indigenous and people of color. The task force is made up of 18 members including Paul Walker who serves as Chair and ASHP Board Liaison, ASHP President Tom Johnson, and ASHP CEO Paul Abramowitz.

The members of the task force began its work in August and further broke out into three subgroups to focus development of recommendations around (1) governance and committees, (2) education and training, publications, and research, and (3) advocacy, marketing and communications. Each subgroup is currently developing actionable and sustainable recommendations to share with the full task force for discussion, and the full task force will then finalize its recommendations in a report to the ASHP Board of Directors by January. ASHP’s goal, however, is to receive recommendations on an ongoing basis from the task force that can be considered for more immediate implementation. ASHP will also be hosting a Task Force town hall session at the Midyear Clinical Meeting to share the preliminary draft recommendations compiled by the Task Force and solicit additional member feedback.

Michelle Jones, Chief Human Resources Officer and Vice President, Human Resources Division