APMA News - September/October 2023 - 13

What challenges has the DEI
Committee faced, and what steps have
been taken to overcome them in pursuit
of a more diverse, equitable, and
inclusive profession?
Dr. Harris: Challenges have been the misconception
of what true DEI is and is not. Depending on
the depth and breadth of how we as individuals
have chosen to obtain information regarding DEI,
that [approach] influences our perspective on the
extreme magnitude of how DEI impacts everyone
regardless of their internal biases developed
throughout our lives. We are attempting to provide
as many educational tools to expand everyone's
perspective on the benefits of embracing the
value that everyone has to offer regardless of
their background.
How do you plan to ensure ongoing
education and awareness among
association members regarding the
importance of DEI principles?
Dr. Bisbee: We've given lectures at The National,
where we've had the public health track. Over the
past couple of years, we've included DEI topics
within those lectures. We're planning to have some
webinars on the APMA Online Learning Center
that members can access. Some states have requirements
for DEI topics.
Looking ahead, what are the committee's
key priorities and upcoming projects
related to promoting DEI within podiatric
medicine?
Dr. Harris: Our key priority is developing measures
and garnering participation of the membership in
the collection of information that we as a committee
feel will allow us to recommend changes.
These efforts will make our association beneficial
to all instead of isolated clusters of individuals.
How do you embody DEI principles in
your patient care and student or resident
mentoring?
Dr. Harris: I start with " loving my neighbor as myself. "
If I wouldn't do something or treat myself in a
particular way, then I will not do it to anyone else.
Dr. Bisbee: We'd all like to think that as doctors,
we treat everybody exactly the same all the
time. The reality is we all have our own inherent,
unconscious bias. I would never not do something
that's right for a patient, but at the same
time, I admittedly have thought to myself, oh,
that patient can't afford that, and then I offered
The Charge of
The Diversity,
Equity, and
Inclusion (DEI)
Committee
* Evaluate the feasibility of and implement
the recommendations of the Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion Task Force.
* Evaluate and ensure diversity, equity,
and inclusion perspectives and efforts
are incorporated into all aspects
of APMA.
* Increase awareness and importance of
understanding implicit bias and cultural
competence in the delivery of podiatric
medical and surgical care.
something less expensive. The reality is we
should never assume things like that. We should
always offer anything and everything, and let the
patient decide. When it comes to health care,
there are a lot of unconscious biases that none
of us should be ashamed to admit once we [realize]
them. Just in the last few months of being
on this committee, I have recognized things I
should be doing differently and have started doing
differently. The example I just gave you was
probably the biggest one. As my fellow trustee,
Dr. Will Long, likes to say, " You don't know what
you don't know. " So sometimes you must open
your eyes a little bit, and it's okay to say you
don't know something as long as you're learning
from it. That's where this committee is certainly
helping me personally, and I think can help lots
of our members.
Dr. DeHeer: We have required training from our
hospitals and my company does too, so we're
educated on it and can be aware of it. With health
care starting to take social determinants of health
into consideration for overall care of patients, it
mandates us to become aware of it and also how
to incorporate it into our overall care plans.
To learn more about the committee and DEI
itself, visit www.apma.org/dei.
APMA.ORG
apmanews
13
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APMA News - September/October 2023

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