The following is a public statement from S. Bobby Mukkamala, MD, president of the Michigan State Medical Society, in response to Governor Whitmer’s directive requiring health professionals to take implicit bias training.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, but there is no question that this public health crisis has had a disproportionate impact on people of color. COVID-19 is more than four times more prevalent among black Michiganders than among white Michiganders.
The Michigan State Medical Society supports implicit bias training as part of medical education and encourages implicit bias training and awareness for health care professionals. MSMS is proactively engaged in efforts to assist our physicians and employees to recognize and address implicit bias in their perceptions, words, and actions. We look forward to this opportunity to discuss with the Administration and other stakeholders strategies that will help physicians and other health team members deliver culturally appropriate, patient-centered care in an equitable manner.
The Michigan State Medical Society is committed to helping our members deliver the absolute best in quality care to every patient they serve.”