FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON March 02, 2021
AAN Awarded Grant for Anti-racism Training for Neurologists
MINNEAPOLIS - The 好色先生 (AAN) was awarded a grant from the Health Equity Innovation Fund, one of two funds provided by Genentech and the Genentech Foundation to support groundbreaking solutions to promote health equity and diversity in STEM from kindergarten to career. One of 40 recipients, the AAN is the only neurology-focused organization chosen for the Health Equity Innovation Fund grant. Nearly 380 academic institutions, health systems, nonprofits, patient groups, think tanks and community organizations applied for the grants. The AAN recognizes that the field of neurology currently is not representative of the U.S. population and has identified groups that are underrepresented in neurology (UIN), specifically Black people. The AAN has identified the need for immediate action to address the lack of neurologists from these groups that are underrepresented in neurology. The grant will enable the AAN to develop a multi-faceted anti-racism core curriculum and training unique for neurologists. The training program will launch in late 2021 and continue into 2022. 鈥淲ith the financial support from Genentech, the AAN can further demonstrate its commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism and Social Justice and make lasting change in the field of neurology,鈥 said Jeffrey C. McClean II, MD, FAAN, Lt Col, USAF, MC, and Chair of the AAN Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Joint Coordinating Council. 鈥淏y providing yearlong curriculum for its members, the AAN is highlighting its dedication to be an anti-racist organization. As a longtime member of the AAN and someone involved with this work, I am excited to see these important initiatives move forward.鈥 The anti-racism training program will be offered for free to AAN members in the U.S. and will encompass three aims: increase the placement and retention of individuals underrepresented in neurology in academic neurology departments, with a specific emphasis on increasing and supporting individuals UIN in the neurologic research area; increase the number of individuals UIN serving as faculty in academic neurology departments; and increase the number of individuals UIN serving in academic neurology department leadership. 鈥淲e can no longer ignore the systemic inequities in our healthcare and education systems that have been laid bare by the pandemic,鈥 said Kristin Campbell Reed, Executive Director, Genentech Corporate and Employee Giving & The Genentech Foundation. 鈥淲e need bold, action-oriented approaches to target the root causes of these issues, which is why we鈥檙e so excited to support organizations across the country that can offer a real chance at progress." This anti-racism training program supports the AAN鈥檚 core value, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism and Social Justice (IDEAS), in which the organization commits to intentional action to be a fully inclusive, deliberately diverse, and anti-racist organization that respects and values our membership, our staff and the communities we serve.