[Rx2021] Conversation on Equity and Justice

Fri Jun 19 11:02:26 EDT 2020

Thank you Victoria for starting the conversation.

I appreciate sharing the list of resources from arts and sciences as well as your statements of solidarity.  There is much to do to move towards a more equitable and just school, profession, and society.  No more excuses, but action and accountability.

I’d like to add some resources that provide focus on health related impact of racism.

Harriet A Washington.  Medical Apartheid:  The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black American from Colonial Times to the Present.  https://www.amazon.com/Medical-Apartheid-Experimentation-Americans-Colonial/dp/076791547X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=EK1GADFMQW64&dchild=1&keywords=medical+apartheid+harriet+washington&qid=1592577397&sprefix=medical+apar%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-2

Rebecca Skloot.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. https://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Life-Henrietta-Lacks/dp/1400052181/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3Q3OBY23TAJ8R&dchild=1&keywords=henrietta+lacks&qid=1592577543&sprefix=henrie%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1

Linda Villarosa.  Myths about physical racial differences were used to justify slavery – and are still believed by doctors today.  [part of the 1619 project for the NY Times]  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/racial-differences-doctors.html

Carol Rose DeLilly.  Discrimination and Health Outcomes.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3695227/

Zinzi D Bailey, et al.  Structural racism and health inequities in the USA: evidence and interventions.  [of note, there are a number of good articles in this issue of the lancet relating to equity] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)30569-X/fulltext

I’m linking to Amazon for simplicity, but please consider purchasing from a local book store.  I know there are many other resources and would welcome additions to this list from others.

Lauren

From: rxschool <rxschool-bounces at pharmacy.pitt.edu> on behalf of "Grieve, Victoria Luna Brennan" <Victoria.Grieve at pitt.edu>
Date: Friday, June 19, 2020 at 9:53 AM
To: "Beumer, Jan H" <beumerjh at upmc.edu>
Cc: rx2022 <rx2022 at pharmacy.pitt.edu>, RX2023 List <rx2023 at pharmacy.pitt.edu>, rx2020 <RX2020 at pitt.edu>, rx2021 <RS330084 at pitt.edu>, Pharm - rxschool <rxschool at pharmacy.pitt.edu>
Subject: Re: Conversation on Equity and Justice

Hi Jan,

Thank you for your concern and you are correct that I may not have vetted everything on that list that was approved by the Dietrich school. You are correct in highlighting the misinformation that abounds surrounding these issues (some of it stretching back decades!).

However, I must disagree with your admonishment of supplying protesters with the necessary equipment to appropriately exercise their First Amendment rights. Considering that tear gas is banned in warfare as a chemical weapon,<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pri.org%2Fstories%2F2019-07-31%2Ftear-gas-has-been-banned-warfare-why-do-police-still-use-it&data=02%7C01%7Cljf1%40pitt.edu%7C745185436fed44d9846108d814581ffc%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C637281716013170411&sdata=4jXXGP9RlgesI5cy16ELGrZ5jvZ6KPqeK0VYQFyr0kc%3D&reserved=0> but somehow allowed to be used against our own citizens in riot control (which, as we've seen in the past few weeks also means firing on[CW: potentially graphic] peaceful protesters<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUrMoqSPZym0&data=02%7C01%7Cljf1%40pitt.edu%7C745185436fed44d9846108d814581ffc%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C637281716013175400&sdata=bkApXjALH46zM58mBNMjToQ89wz%2FW6T3IU5RUu%2FPo00%3D&reserved=0> and random bystanders<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2020%2F05%2F31%2Fus%2Fpolice-tactics-floyd-protests.html&data=02%7C01%7Cljf1%40pitt.edu%7C745185436fed44d9846108d814581ffc%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C637281716013180391&sdata=9Xc4M85aPh32fCqfTF%2B%2BOFthHRWssGmpdSrLBaquhiM%3D&reserved=0>). Even beyond all that, these tactics are "less-than lethal" and have still resulted in the deaths of many protesters, like this young woman from Ohio<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2020%2F06%2F09%2Fohio-woman-dies-after-exposure-to-tear-gas-pepper-spray%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cljf1%40pitt.edu%7C745185436fed44d9846108d814581ffc%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C637281716013185379&sdata=HTbSn2NV4sKoG7ux3wJUYQBrmMu4jb0UpaNSmQv%2BzDI%3D&reserved=0>. Had she been wearing a mask, she would likely be alive today.

So yes, I agree with the encouragement to protect our young men and women trying to make a difference from the overly violent and potentially lethal methods being used against them. "Military Grade" is perhaps a bit hyperbolic since there are plenty of commercial gas masks widely available that are rated against tear gas.

I can understand why others may not share that understanding of the situation, but that is really just highlighting how important these conversations are.

~Victoria

On Fri, Jun 19, 2020 at 9:09 AM Beumer, Jan H <beumerjh at upmc.edu<mailto:beumerjh at upmc.edu>> wrote:
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for the note with resources, which I will put to use. There has been much information and misinformation about this issue, and I am learning every time I read about is.
First, I do not take your forwarding of the Dietrich list as your personal endorsement of all items.
I was surprised in a not pleasant way that apparently our institution endorses and encourages donations to a gas mask fund to buy “military-grade gas masks to protect against teargas.”. I fear not much good can come of that approach, neither for individuals involved, nor the movement as a whole.
Kind regards, Jan

From: rxschool <rxschool-bounces at pharmacy.pitt.edu<mailto:rxschool-bounces at pharmacy.pitt.edu>> On Behalf Of Victoria Grieve
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2020 2:45 PM
To: rxschool at pharmacy.pitt.edu<mailto:rxschool at pharmacy.pitt.edu>; rx2020 at pharmacy.pitt.edu<mailto:rx2020 at pharmacy.pitt.edu>; rx2021 at pharmacy.pitt.edu<mailto:rx2021 at pharmacy.pitt.edu>; rx2022 at pharmacy.pitt.edu<mailto:rx2022 at pharmacy.pitt.edu>; rx2023 at pharmacy.pitt.edu<mailto:rx2023 at pharmacy.pitt.edu>
Subject: Conversation on Equity and Justice

Good morning everyone,

The Oath of the Pharmacist states that we are to “consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering (as our) primary concerns”.

Two weeks ago, on June 2nd, Chancellor Gallagher put out a statement <https://www.chancellor.pitt.edu/spotlight/statement-racial-injustice-and-death-george-floyd> regarding the current uprising around the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of Geoge Floyd and the subsequent police riots. He said, “this is also a time to turn the lens inward and consider our institution’s own role in perpetuating unfair structures and systems...Our university must become a better, more equitable place, and we can do more.” This call to action requires every school on campus to examine the systems put into place so that we may recognize and remove any bigotry found therein. Racism isn’t just direct hostility, it is far more insidious. Whether intentional or not, we must confront the racism baked into the systems that make up our culture.

Additionally, we have to face this reality in not only the school setting but the profession at large. On June 5th the national organizations for pharmacy put out their own statement<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnationalpharmaceuticalassociation.org%2Fresources%2FDocuments%2FPharmacists_RacialInjustice_V2.pdf&data=02%7C01%7Cljf1%40pitt.edu%7C745185436fed44d9846108d814581ffc%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C637281716013190368&sdata=2Qkg%2Ff5eu2ryzM0ZfDOW4K%2Bd%2BcuNH%2FW9ikQB4eWq2q0%3D&reserved=0> calling for pharmacists “as a profession, (to) stand in unity to advocate for the dismantling of systems that have historically marginalized and oppressed Black Americans in this country.” We have a duty as current and future representatives of the profession to stand against white supremacy and expunge it’s influence in the lives of our patients.

Pittsburgh, specifically, has been touted one of America’s “Most Livable Cities” and is generally heralded as progressive, but a study last September <https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.publicsource.org%2Fpittsburghs-black-residents-feel-consequences-of-inequality-more-starkly-than-in-other-u-s-cities-new-city-report-finds%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cljf1%40pitt.edu%7C745185436fed44d9846108d814581ffc%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1%7C0%7C637281716013195359&sdata=kOC5Yj7i79n3tRhx5uX9Z7X2qgBkOXlhhJwIQ53PJis%3D&reserved=0> highlighted the stark contrast in the White and Black experience in the city. The conclusion that was reached stated, “if Black residents got up today and left and moved to the majority of any other cities in the U.S., automatically by just moving their life expectancy would go up, their income would go up, their educational opportunities for their children would go up as well as their employment.” We can no longer stand by and benefit from these systems that so disenfranchise many of our neighbors.

This will be difficult work. This will be uncomfortable work. This is work that must be done if we wish to relieve the suffering of those disenfranchised by the system. This work must be done to uphold the welfare and humanity of all people. As Dean Kroboth recently stated<http://pharmacy.pitt.edu/>,”We must reflect on our own beliefs, words, actions, and interactions. We MUST do more. We WILL do more.”

I have been directly involved in the anti-racism efforts at the School of Computing and Information, and I think it is time to talk about our beliefs, words, actions, and interactions as a school. I would like to start these conversations now. Faculty and Staff, please reply all to this email with your support and interest in being a part of these efforts. Residents and students, please feel free to reply all or directly with me, depending on your comfort level.

For more resources on this, the Dietrich School has compiled a document (ATTACHED) that includes a multitude of options to educate yourself as well as some actionable items you can perform.

I do not have all the answers for this process, but I know that together we can work to create a more equitable and just environment at the school, in this city, and anywhere we find ourselves practicing pharmacy.

Stay safe. Stay powerful.

Victoria Grieve

--
Victoria L. B. Grieve, PharmD

Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics
-Assistant Professor: Pharmacy and Therapeutics
-Adjunct Professor: Information Sciences
-Affiliated Faculty: Gender and Women's Studies

University of Pittsburgh
250 Salk Hall
3501 Terrace St
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Phone: (412)-334-6058<tel:(412)%20334-6058>
E-mail: Victoria.Grieve at pitt.edu<mailto:Victoria.Grieve at pitt.edu>

Pronouns: She/Her

--
Victoria L. B. Grieve, PharmD

Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics
-Assistant Professor: Pharmacy and Therapeutics
-Adjunct Professor: Information Sciences
-Affiliated Faculty: Gender and Women's Studies

University of Pittsburgh
250 Salk Hall
3501 Terrace St
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Phone: (412)-334-6058<tel:(412)%20334-6058>
E-mail: Victoria.Grieve at pitt.edu<mailto:Victoria.Grieve at pitt.edu>

Pronouns: She/Her
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