Holding pharmacy educators accountable in the wake of the anti-racism movement: A call to action.

INTRODUCTION

The recent murders of Black Americans has forced our society to reevaluate how the various systems in our nation view race and to attempt to dismantle and rebuild the structures that reinforce and perpetuate racial group inequity.

PERSPECTIVE

Cultural awareness education has been broadly integrated into pharmacy curricula across the country to comply with accreditation standards. Health disparities are currently addressed in the context of race and ethnicity but lack the connection to racism. Cultural awareness education should focus more on racism and its impact on healthcare.

IMPLICATIONS

In order to properly address racism in cultural awareness education, there has to be a deliberate curricular integration of anti-racism education addressing historical factors that have set the foundation of structural racism in this country. The current manifestations and impact on healthcare can be connected to this history. As a primary influencer of one of the most accessible healthcare professionals, pharmacy educators are at the forefront to educate and equip the next generation to strive for health equity in the context of racism.