In light of The United States Supreme Court’s recent decision on affirmative action, The California Society of Anesthesiologists (CSA) would like to reiterate our commitment to promoting a diverse medical workforce. Racial, ethnic and gender concordance between physicians and patients has been associated with improved healthcare outcomes, patient safety, trust and communication and is therefore a recognized evidence-based strategy in reducing healthcare disparities and improving health for all patients.
Anesthesiology, like many fields in medicine, already has disproportionately low numbers of physicians from historically underrepresented groups. As residents of our nation’s largest and most diverse state, Californians are best served by physicians from a wide range of backgrounds.
CSA will continue to work alongside medical organizations, educators, lawmakers, and California residents to create actionable solutions which will allow diversity to flourish in the health professions. CSA’s community partnership with Project Lead the Way is just one example where anesthesiologists can build bridges with students from diverse backgrounds who are interested in health care. Additionally, CSA will continue to elevate and amplify equitable access to health care throughout California and promote culturally responsive care. CSA invites our members to participate in governance meetings where we can work together in continuing to promote diversity in our profession and in equity of access to healthcare.