ABP Petition: Add Competencies on the Effects of Racism on Children

Elizabeth M. Perkins, MD
MAJ, MC, USA
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellow
Madigan Army Medical Center | JBLM, WA

Erika Phelps Nishiguchi, MD
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellow
Seattle Children’s | University of Washington

Anisha Srinivasan, MD
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellow
Seattle Children’s | University of Washington

We are three Washington state Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics fellows who have created a petition to the American Board of Pediatrics to include competencies centering racism. We had guidance and support in writing the petition from members of the AAP Minority Healthy Equity and Inclusion (MHEI) group and members of Society of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP) RACE-CARD group.

More than 550 pediatric providers at all levels of training have signed the petition so far.  We invite you to read and sign the petition. The more pediatricians that sign, the stronger our ask to the ABP that continuous and nuanced education around racism is essential for our professional education and for improving child health.

Even once the petition closes, our work will continue. If you do not get a chance to sign the petition but are still  interested in staying up to date with the progress of this petition, have ideas about how to create competencies around this topic, or would consider being on a task force to help develop competencies, please send us your email address using this form.

*Editor’s note: WCAAP has formed an Equity Work Group who are producing a toolkit for clinics to pursue antiracism and provide equitable care. The toolkit will be disseminated and shared with WCAAP members in 2021.