Reaffirming Our Pledge to the Medical Community

January 30, 2025

As a professional association dedicated to evidence-based science and patient-centered care, the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) asserts the importance of health equity through medical practice and public policy. Recent federal directives threaten to actively undermine these efforts by eliminating services, positions, and programs aimed at achieving this critical goal.

Considering these actions, we reaffirm our commitment to education and initiatives that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the medical profession. Our focus is rooted in scientific research that demonstrates how addressing implicit bias and diversifying the medical care team can improve patient outcomes.

CHEST remains steadfast in our mission to prevent, diagnose, and treat chest diseases using all available means to advance the best patient outcomes. We maintain that striving for health equity is essential to achieving this goal.

We recognize that clinicians face increasing obstacles to advancing their professional growth, which impedes their ability to provide the highest-quality care to their patients. CHEST is dedicated to equipping our members with necessary and valuable resources and advocating for the use of all communication channels to ensure access to critical information.

We pledge our unwavering support to the medical community and will honor the values that guide us in achieving our collective mission.

More on health equity:

Affirming Health Equity in Medicine

Evidence-Based Medicine Must Lead the Way

Health Equity in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

CHEST Values