Speaker: Michael W. Jann, Professor , HSC College of Pharmacy
Why participating in the ACCP Inclusivity, Diversity & Equity (IDE) Committee matters to me.
Michael W. Jann: Greetings. My name is Michael Jann and I've been a Member of ACCP for almost 40 years. I've recently retired after an academic clinical practice and research career of 43 years. Most recently, for the past 10 years I was a Professor of Pharmacotherapy at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth Texas at the College of Pharmacy. During my membership at ACCP, I served on many different committees and was elected to the Board of Regents, Secretary and Treasurer. I have had the privilege of witnessing and participating in the college's growth in different areas of education and service. Cultures and societies continually evolve over time as progress moves us forward in our professional and personal journey. Last year the Inclusivity, Diversity & Equity, or I D E Committee was formed and approved by the Board of Regents. I was delighted to volunteer and serve on this new committee. That is a different focus for our Members. The committee members were asked to prepare a presentation of individual I DE components, with my assignment briefly a 2-3 minute presentation about diversity. So the question is why participating in the A C C P I D E Committee matters to me with a focus on diversity. The word diversity according to Webster's dictionary means the fact or quality of being different with a point of respect in which things differ. The word respect is fundamental. Serving on this committee with respect for all the different aspects of our Members. Serving on the committee where I helped to prepare the I DE Survey was an enlightening experience. Unlike serving on other committees, the process of survey preparation was respectful, thoughtful and sensitive to our Member's needs. The information gathered from the survey clearly displayed the diversity among our Members in various forms. The I DE Booth display at the Annual Meeting further demonstrates the committee member's support and commitment to the I DE concepts with action steps in promoting the I DE ideals. When the Board of Regents approved the I D E Committee formation, it made a commitment of the college's resources to move forward the I DE concepts essential to our Members. The committee's next action step was to obtain information about how our Members view and felt regarding I DE within the college. The I DE Committee prepared, tested and distributed the survey to our Members. The survey results showed a tremendous amount of diversity within the college. This impressive diversity within the college takes on many different forms. One: membership composition by professional degree is fairly evenly distributed amongst physicians, PhDs and pharmacists. Two: each professional degree discipline held or currently holds many leadership roles within the college. The Board of Regents, Executive Committee and committee chairs. Three: both men and women are equally representative of the college in committees, committee chairs and leadership roles. Four: diversity was found among the duration of membership with equal representation from new or recent Members to Members like me who have been with the college a very long time. And finally five: the survey findings showed that diversity was highly embraced by our membership regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Each of these attributes was respectful, independent of professional degree, leadership role, membership duration and gender in all forms. The I DE Committee and its role within ACCP will continue to evolve and move forward with the organization's strength found in its diverse Members. I thank you, the I DE Committee members, the Board of Regents and you our Members for making ACCP, that special organization that embraces the I D E fundamentals. Thank you for your attention and this concludes my presentation.
