National Minority Health Month
As a family physician, you have the power to advocate for the health of the communities you serve. The AAFP observes National Minority Health Month to further encourage that advocacy. “Be the Source for Better Health” is this year’s theme, and we'll share resources that will help you identify and address barriers to health equity. We'll also feature the work of diverse group of doctors who are engaged in being the source for better health through advocacy in their communities.
A Word From The President
AAFP Members in Action
Your colleagues are doing incredible work to address health equity issues and serve minority patients. We're putting their voices at the center, because it's their work that paves the way for change.
DEI Commission Members Advocate for Better Patient and Community Outcomes, Encourage Others to Join
"It's really important that we recognize how diversity, equity, and inclusiveness impacts not only our members, but it impacts our communities. And how best can we care for those if we do not make ourselves aware of diversity, equity, and inclusiveness and making sure that everything we do – from our policies, from our recommendations as the Academy – those things need to be done through a DEI lens." – Dr. Ada Stewart, MD, FAAFP
"This is a way to be an advocate for your patients and for your specialty at a much greater level. The Commission and the Commission work that you're going to be able to do will truly have lasting impacts not only for your patients, but also for our specialty as a whole." – Dr. Kamini Greer, MD, MPH, FAAFP
We Still Have Work to Do
An important way for AAFP to honor NMHM is to recognize that we still have work to do to address racism and inequalities in patient care. We are focused on improving existing health care processes that negatively affect minority communities. Our advocacy is critical to ensure the health care system works for everyone.
Browse the topics below for resources you can use to support your practice.
Podcast: Dr. Cleveland Piggott and His Insights on Health Equity
Dr. Cleveland Piggott, president of the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians and associate professor and vice chair for diversity, equity, inclusion at the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine, discusses the importance of DEI in the medical field.
Community Engagement Health Equity Briefs
It is an AAFP policy priority to address the social determinants of health. Participate in advocacy efforts in your community using these health equity issue briefs covering social deterinamants of health including food insecurity, housing instability, transportation, and socioeconomic stauts.
Anti-Racism & Social Determinants of Health Action Guides
To give family physicians tools to address social determinants of health and counter longstanding misconceptions about race and medicine, the Academy has developed action guides. Clinicians are encouraged to share these resources with other members of their health care team.
Improving the Patient Experience
FPM, a peer-reviewed journal published by AAFP delved into the importance of a patient's experience with their care, and how to address the biggest issues that create patient dissatisfaction or frustration.
- Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Daily Practice: Social factors often have greater influence on patients' health than medical care. Identifying those factors is the first step to addressing them.
- Overcoming Barriers of Distrust: Whether distrust stems from discrimination or other negative experiences, “Seek first to understand.”
- What Do Patients Want?: “Patient satisfaction” is the measure of how well the entire experience met patients' expectations. Was the clinic warm and welcoming? Did they feel listened to and cared for?