The murder of 10 people, the majority of whom were Black Americans, while shopping at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, is the most recent and abhorrent hate crime in our country. While all of us are shocked and dismayed by the terrible loss of life, we also want to reach out in support of our Black colleagues who are experiencing this attack as one more example of their own vulnerability in American society. As President Biden said when he met with the families of the victims, white supremacy is a “poison” that must be stopped.
At UW Medicine, we are working to create a place of safety and inclusion for all people. Our mission to improve the health of the public and our commitment to being an anti-racist organization stand in complete opposition to the racist ideology attributed to the perpetrator in the Buffalo attack.
With leadership from the Office of Healthcare Equity, we are addressing racism wherever it persists in our classrooms, hospitals, clinics, and research labs. We encourage you to take advantage of the many programs and resources that are available to support employees and patients and to learn how you can help us achieve our goals for equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice quickly and consistently.
Next week, we will hold affinity group meetings to help us process the Buffalo hate crime in a supportive space. Please watch your email for details. Other options for support can be found at UW Medicine Well Being & Support and UW CareLink.
Our strength in fighting racism and hate crimes comes from both our individual and our collective actions. We thank you for providing support to every member of our community.
Sincerely,
Paul G. Ramsey, M.D.
CEO, UW Medicine
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and
Dean of the School of Medicine,
University of Washington
Paula L. Houston, Ed.D.
Chief Equity Officer
Office of Healthcare Equity, UW Medicine
Associate Vice President for Medical Affairs
University of Washington
Bessie A. Young, M.D.
Vice Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, School of Medicine
Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine
University of Washington
