NASPGHAN is proud to recognize February as Black History Month. This month we take a moment to honor the invaluable contributions of Black individuals to the field of pediatric gastroenterology. The 2020 US census identified 41.1 million (12.4%) Black or African American individuals living in the United States, coupled with 5.8 million who identified as Black/African American in combination with another race (bringing the total to 14.2%). However, only 5.7% of physicians in the United States identify as Black or African American (see AAMC data here).
The second week of February was initially designated Negro History Week in 1926 by African-American historian Carter G. Woodson to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. It officially became a month-long celebration in the United States in 1976, followed by Canada in 1995. You can read more about the history of Black History Month here.
This Black History Month, NASPGHAN celebrates the achievements of Black healthcare professionals, acknowledges the challenges they have overcome, and recommits to creating a medical community that embraces diversity in all its forms. By doing so, we honor the past, acknowledge the present, and work towards a future where everyone has equal opportunities to contribute to and benefit from advancements in medicine.
