I believe it is time for us to speak with some candor about the tragic events that are unfolding in our country today. Our black communities stand battered and bruised, incredulous, and angered by the senseless murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, and the ongoing violence and injustices that they are continually faced with. These times demand our profound empathy, compassion, humanity, and most importantly, our unity and commitment to justice.

As our nation struggles to come to terms with this discrimination, let this be a call to us for action as a department and an integral part of the UAB community. Systemic racism is deeply rooted in our society. It is our obligation to commit to create and preserve an environment in which we don’t just tolerate but embrace all forms of diversity: including, but not limited to, race, religion, and gender. Diversity is not just a nicety. It is absolutely  central to the creation of communities that are safe, happy, and in which creativity and innovation thrive.
 
I value and will implement with urgency any ideas you have on how we as a department can further our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

— Nelson Mandela

Sincerely, 

Dan Berkowitz

Dan E. Berkowitz, MB BCH
Alfred Habeeb Professor and Chair
Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine
School of Medicine
University of Alabama at Birmingham

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A Special Dean's Message: Confronting racism—the country's systemic, pre-existing condition
Important Message from UAB Leaders