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Objectives:
Definition of Health Equity
IAFP definition: Health equity is realized when each individual has a fair opportunity to achieve their full health potential. Achieving health equity requires treating everyone justly according to their circumstances: equality is an outcome of equity. Societal efforts must be undertaken to address structural inequalities that create group-differentiated access to resources, as well as differentiated vulnerabilities to harm.” (IHI, Healthy People 2020, Race Matters Institute, Structural Competency Workgroup, Am J Public Health)
“Americans believe in the reality of ‘race’ as a defined, indubitable feature of the natural world. Racism—the need to ascribe bone-deep features to people and then humiliate, reduce, and destroy them—inevitably follows from this inalterable condition. In this way, racism is rendered as the innocent daughter of Mother Nature, and one is left to deplore the Middle Passage or Trail of Tears the way one deplores an earthquake, a tornado, or any other phenomenon that can be cast as beyond the handiwork of men. But race is the child of racism, not the father.” (Ta Nehesi Coates, Between the World and Me)
To understand racism, one must understand how it operates on multiple levels: personal, interpersonal, institutional, structural. See the graphic below, and watch this video from RaceForward.
Ways to Take Action
Results from the IAFP's Health Equity Champions Survey highlighted 50+ individuals willing to partner with IAFP in a number of ways, and areas in which they want to get involved. We provide a brief overview of tangible ways to engage in health equity work. Identify specific need from your personal experience, or community with the Illinois-Specific Resources below.
Here are first steps you can take:
1. Reflect on existing biases and privileges you may bring to the table. This may be an uncomfortable reflection, but is part of the continual process. It is ok to make mistakes as long as you are humble.
2. Identify one socio-economic factor that may contribute to health inequity in your community. Think about stories from your patients, or use the resources here.
3. Find your role and superpower: There are different roles that one can play to generate social change. As family physicians, we may identify the most as frontline responders and caregivers. Aside from those two roles, what are unique characteristics that you possess? Check out a full list of roles here, and examples of initial steps.
4. Join our IAFP Health Equity Member Interest Group to be connected with Health Equity champions.
5. IAFP Hosted a Town Hall for Medical Students on October 17, 2020. Learn more and view the recording
Education with state and national FM Advocacy Resources:
Use your Voice: Write an op-ed and/or Letter to the Editor:
Suggested places of distribution:
Tips for writing an Op-Ed from the Harvard Communication Project
Make sure you have a headshot photo to submit, if needed.
You can also contact Ginnie Flynn, IAFP Vice President of Communications, for help in finalizing your message.
