The American Society of Transplantation remains steadfast in its dedication to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging amongst its members and the broader transplant community. This commitment is critical every day, and it must be reinforced in periods when words and acts reflect discrimination against, or even hatred for, individuals or groups based on myriad characteristics including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and political beliefs or affiliation.
Within the organ donation and transplantation communities, inequities and discrimination can contribute to disparities in opportunities, physical health, psychological wellbeing, access to transplant and related healthcare services, life quality, and ultimately, survival. Our conviction is firm that every individual should receive respectful and equitable treatment, devoid of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, native language, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law. In addition, discriminatory, devaluing, and violent practices have no place in our world, especially within our professional society, and we denounce all such intent, behavior, and activity.
Aligned with the core mission of the AST, we are resolute in our commitment to eradicating all structural inequities in all of their manifestations. We aspire to eliminate disparities, promote diverse collegiality, break down barriers hindering a culture of equality and equity, and ensure that the transplant community upholds a zero-tolerance stance against all forms of discrimination.
The commitment the AST made in June 2020 to achieve permanent change by addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging continues through ongoing work, including:
- Continued work of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access to Life (IDEAL) Committee to promulgate a sustainable culture of inclusivity and equity in the organization.
- Education for members about the negative ramifications of structural and systemic injustices that contribute to inequities and the benefits of diversity through targeted educational activities.
- Dedicated resources and mentoring to establish and sustain a pipeline for all individuals to pursue research and leadership opportunities, and professional promotion in transplant-related fields.
- Capture of essential Society member demographic data to identify areas for strategy development (including by specialty, geography, or experience level) to promote equitable practices and policies.
- Collaboration with other transplant-related organizations to eradicate policies and practices in transplantation that are discriminatory and perpetuate injustice, inequity, and disparity.
- Accelerated advocacy efforts to promote legislation to advance equitable transplantation access and outcomes for all patients and donors.
- Safeguards to ensure that all Society and staffing decisions are free of bias that limits opportunities to any specific demographic of the membership.
- Training of AST leadership and staff on anti-discrimination strategies, recognizing implicit bias, and increasing equity.
In addition to reaffirming our position and supporting our values, we believe that the AST should, whenever and wherever possible, strive to partner with organizations, businesses, and other entities that share the AST’s commitment to practices that are designed to eliminate discrimination and increase diversity, equity, inclusivity and belonging in transplantation. We are devoted to creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for our members, our patients, and the broader community. AST will continually strive to serve as a haven of belonging for transplant care providers, learners, educators, researchers, administrators, and patients alike.
Reference
Approved by the AST Board of Directors on May 31, 2024
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