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The status quo is not what we need right now nor is it acceptable in these extraordinary times. We at the Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET) do not believe in just publishing statements, but silence at this moment, in our opinion, is harmful.
The crux of the matter is that the status quo of how things have been, or the comfort afforded some of us but denied to most, cannot be countenanced at this pivotal moment. The egregious murders, multiple systems of oppression including White supremacy and misogyny, and the blatant attack on reproductive rights even before an official ruling is made by the U.S. Supreme Court cannot be addressed through silence.
Regardless of our political allegiances, we should all be able to agree that individuals should not walk around in fear of being murdered while minding our own day-to-day business, be it grocery shopping or worshiping.
We should all be able to agree that a health care decision, especially one that is complex and nuanced, should be made within the trusted space of one’s self, their loved ones, and their health care team, and should not be governed by political affiliation or ideology nor a ruling from the bench.
Up to this point, the business-as-usual approach to addressing our societal ills has been mostly status quo, which translates to silence, which at an institution with core missions that include service, teaching, and discovery, is not acceptable. To address what we now face, we cannot be satisfied with the status quo.
We need high-level leaders right now who are not satisfied with the status quo and who are brave enough to be trailblazers. Trailblazers are not afraid to ask the hard questions. They are not afraid to push boundaries when it is clear that some individuals or populations are being left behind or not being heard or are being harmed. Trailblazers are not afraid to fail while trying to do better, because learning from failure is part of the process. Indeed, we all can do better.
We at CHET are not satisfied with the status quo because we seek to lift health and well-being for all. We will not sit in silence, as the silence harms those we aim to serve.
Sincerely,
The Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET)
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