APhA DEIB Committee

The APhA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee

To address the issues of systemic racism, discrimination, injustice, and marginalization of individuals within the profession and communities that APhA members serve, APhA’s Board of Trustees has launched a new board-appointed, member-facing committee. The APhA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee will continue the work of the Task Force on Structural Racism (formed in 2020).

For this committee to succeed, we need your voice. Please consider joining.

Those interested in participating must be APhA members in good standing. Documentation of interest in DEIB and/or antiracism initiatives through training, education, publication, or community advocacy is also strongly encouraged. Furthermore, those interested should be representative of diverse communities, marginalized groups, or allies for the work on issues to be addressed by the committee.

Interested parties must submit an application that includes a personal statement describing their experience and commitment to the issues of DEIB, antiracism, health equity, and/or other issues the committee will address.

The committee will be meeting quarterly with subcommittee meetings held on an as-needed basis to conduct the work at hand. Please note that we recognize the busy lives of members who balance a full workload with other responsibilities, so please volunteer only if you have the time to dedicate to this critical issue.

Subcommittees will be structured around identified focus areas and consider perspectives from the organization, pharmacy profession, and within health care. The sphere of influence will be based on listening sessions and other community inputs.

APhA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee Charter

Approved by APhA Board of Trustees November 2021

Vision

To position APhA as an inclusive organization in which all voices are heard, respected and invited to help transform pharmacy within the profession and communities we serve.

Mission

To approach the issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging with empathy and urgency so that members and those across the profession of pharmacy are acutely aware of APhA’s unwavering commitment to ensure that all voices are heard, respected, and invited to help transform pharmacy within the profession and communities we serve.

Charges:

This Committee is not a board committee. Members are appointed by the Board and ultimate approval of their activities rests with the Board on an annual cycle and is advisory to the Board of Trustees.
The Committee will collaborate on priorities and provide guidance to APhA Board and Staff on strategies to:
- address systemic racism, discrimination, injustice, and marginalization of individuals within the profession and communities that APhA members serve
- help increase membership engagement as it relates to DEIB initiatives
Through listening sessions, provision of tools and resources (educational and mental health) as well as dissemination of data-informed findings, empower and support members throughout the lifecycle of the Pharmacy Profession to address DEIB issues.
The Committee will provide and receive ongoing guidance and feedback to/from the APhA Board and Staff to support the work of the Board and Staff in implementing commitment to instilling diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging into the fabric of the organization and pharmacy profession.
The Committee will collaborate and provide guidance to APhA Board and Staff so that there is proactive recognition and celebration of members’ diversity, distinct experiences, and the various community groups they serve as healthcare providers.
The Committee shall provide and present an Annual Update to the APhA Board of Trustees on activities of the Association and environmental scans.

Meetings:

The Committee will meet quarterly (or some other frequency) with subcommittee meetings (monthly or every other month or some other determined frequency) to conduct the work at hand.

Subcommittees would be structured around identified Focus Areas and consider perspectives from the organization, pharmacy profession, and within healthcare. The sphere of influence will be based on listening sessions and other community inputs. Initially, these areas of interest shall include

Systemic/structural racism impacting marginalized Groups such as people of color, LGBTQI+ etc.
Gender equity

Committee Membership:

The members may change in number and composition to support the needs of the Committee and its associated activities.

Committee Structure and Membership Criteria:

Potential criteria to use in selection of Committee members

Required: APhA Member in good standing
Other potential criteria
- Documentation of interest in DEIB and/or Anti-Racism initiatives through training, education, publication, or community advocacy
- Representative of diverse communities, marginalized groups, or allies for the work on issues to be addressed by the Committee
- Submission of personal statement describing their experience and commitment to the issues of DEIB, Anti-Racism, Health Equity, or other issues the Committee will address