# BlackLivesMatter
Dear DFC Members, partners, and Community,
As a membership organization of healthcare providers, medical students, and public health practitioners we believe unequivocally that Black Lives Matter. The past couple of weeks have been fraught with a rollercoaster of emotion. It may have seemed unusual that DFC has not spoken out before now. We strongly believe that making a statement simply for the sake of saying something is not the correct pathway to achieving impactful change. We’ve taken time over the last several days to reach-out to community activists, to listen to our African American colleagues, and to learn.
Now it's TIME TO TAKE ACTION
As DFC seeks to bridge the gap between the practice of medicine and serving vulnerable communities, we recognize that systemic racism is ever present in the very institutions in which we practice. We see how it affects the daily lives of our patients and community partners, and we understand the role that our healthcare community has played with respect to the poorer outcomes for communities of color. We know the data, we are aware of the inequities, we are aware of the barriers to access to care, and we know the policies; but we have yet to break down barriers and implement sufficient changes in the practice of medicine to eliminate health disparities. This is where our action will be focused.
After careful thought and consideration, we have decided that DFC’s first contribution to dismantling racism should be to engage with communities and partners and learn how we, as individual members of DFC, can address bias in our own work as well actively promote health equity in the provision of healthcare. Please stay tuned for more information as we plan a series of dialogues and events to address these important issues.
This is just the beginning. We know that the lessons we learn will continue to inform not only our practices as individuals, but also DFC’s ability to advocate on behalf of all Texans. We look forward to being part of the lasting change our community and country will create together.
