The Department of Public Health Sciences repudiates the racism and disregard for human lives our nation witnessed and experienced with the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd at the hands of police. The Department of Public Health Sciences endorses the statements released on May 29th by the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASSPH) and calls for action now.
As public health professionals, we have not, and will not tolerate the overt as well as structural racism that perpetuates the inequities in health, and in all related determinants of health, such as education, housing, and employment. We will not stay silent. We call on students, faculty, and staff of the Miller School of Medicine to join us to systematically challenge the structures that support racism and discrimination in our school and in our communities by engaging in focused dialogue and advocacy that will lead to meaningful change in policy and everyday practice.
Together, with open hearts, determination, and an uncompromising position, we must unite and engage in the collective and individual actions necessary to build on our strengths and foster a more just society for all.
Sincerely,
David J. Lee, Ph.D.
Professor
Acting Chair, Department of Public Health Sciences
Director of Graduate Programs
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-6980
