BIO’s Dr. McMurry-Heath Says Racism a `Chronic Disease` Plaguing Society
Will lead discussion on race and equity with industry leaders Drs. Tony Coles, Ted Love, and Jeremy Levin next week
In the wake of tragic deaths and civil unrest, BIO’s President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath announced she will lead a panel discussion next week at BIO Digital with industry leaders on the state of race and equity within the biotechnology industry.
Following the announcement, Dr. McMurry-Heath shared her thoughts on events that have taken place in recent days:
“To say our country is at a crossroads would be an understatement. For the past few months, the world has been confronted by an unprecedented challenge in COVID-19, the likes of which we have not experienced in quite some time. Our BIO member companies have rallied to heed the call, working around the clock in the hopes of not only developing near-term solutions, but also long-term cures. And while this represents a more recent challenge, a more chronic disease has continued to plague the United States and many nations around the world for quite some time – racism.
“It’s a word most of us are uncomfortable uttering in polite company, but one that we no less must get comfortable addressing. The senseless killings of George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia have all forced the nation to confront an ugly truth, and that is, despite the tremendous progress we’ve made, we still have a long way to go.
“The peaceful protests taking place today are an important reminder that, only when the voices of Black Americans are heard and their experiences fully understood, will we begin the important process of healing that our nation so desperately needs in this moment. For our part, BIO stands with these peaceful protestors and hope that these concerns are not only amplified in the streets, but in the boardrooms and the halls of political power across our country that serve as important agents for change.
“When I decided to pursue medicine nearly 30 years ago, I did so out of a burning desire to have a positive impact on my community. Health disparities for people of color, then and now, were prevalent and it was my hope that I would use my skills to help improve the patient experience and improve patient outcomes. And while we have made some important progress, we have a long way to go – the data is clear, as communities of color confronting COVID-19 are by far the hardest hit both medically and economically.
“I will never pretend to have all the answers, but I am committed to be a leader dedicated to finding solutions. I will seek to address the insidiousness of racism globally and work with our member companies to identify ways in which we can tackle the issues of diversity that far too often are lacking in our ranks and, most importantly, improve patient care for all patients in the process.”
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