ACOFP: OUR CONTINUING HISTORY 85 New Challenges and Opportunities appointed the Task Force on DEI to help the board reflect on the progress ACOFP had made in this space and to identify ways to better integrate DEI principles across the organization. To help the task force, ACOFP partnered with the Exeter Group to better understand member perspectives on this important and timely topic. This collaboration culminated in a comprehensive survey delving into member engagement and inclusivity. Results from the survey were then shared with the Task Force on DEI, which took charge of developing recommendations to the board for implementation. In 2021, the board approved 15 recommendations aimed at creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. In order to maintain the direction and momentum of these initiatives, the DEI Advisory Board was created to oversee the implementation and evolution of ACOFP’s actions in regard to DEI efforts. Through the combined work of all these groups, the organization strove to solidify DEI principles as a fundamental aspect of its identity. In fall 2020, ACOFP launched the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award to recognize ongoing work in this domain within the ACOFP community. This award recognizes osteopathic family physicians who take actions to foster these principles within diverse and/or marginalized communities. The first recipient of this award was Tejal Patel, DO, who was honored in March 2021 at the ACOFP Annual Convention. ACOFP has worked to continue to embed these values by facilitating deep conversations among stakeholders and members about the intersection of medicine and health in marginalized communities. It has established DEI teams to advance efforts, provide a platform for diverse voices, and advocate for a more inclusive community in health care. Furthermore, ACOFP catalyzed change at a more practical level, starting with incorporating implicit bias training into the education and training of its committee members and staff in 2022. The organization’s strong efforts toward creating a welcoming and inclusive environment that celebrates the diversity of its members and the patients they support was recognized when ACOFP was awarded the 2022 Team Equity Award by SIIA IMPACT Awards. In continued recognition of its efforts, ACOFP was selected as the 2023 AOA Organizational Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Unification Award winner. In a motivational testament to the organization’s commitment to diversity in leadership, 2023 marked the inauguration of the first Asian American president, David J. Park, DO, FACOFP dist. This milestone underlines the vital importance of leadership that resonates with the rich diversity of the ACOFP family. ACOFP BECOMES ACCME ACCREDITED In an effort to provide CME credit to both MD and DO members, regardless of where they are board certified, ACOFP successfully obtained Provisional Accreditation through the ACCME in July 2022. When the organization sought reaccreditation in 2024, they received Accreditation with Commendation. Tejal Patel
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