The recent killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, who died while being arrested by Minneapolis Police, cannot remain unaddressed by our community. The ongoing and more overt injustices against Black Americans in the U.S. reminds us of an ugly, but unfortunately ever present truth of the divisiveness we continue to face as a nation. We are all ultimately part of the society that shapes this nation, and especially as health care professionals, educators and scientists, we are often on the frontlines of guiding patients, vulnerable populations and minorities as they experience and navigate structural, social, and economic inequities on a daily basis.
Racism and racial prejudices have no place in our midst and in the profession of pharmacy. This is not the time to remain silent or stand idly by, instead, this is the time to choose to be anti-racist and proactively promote racial tolerance. In the words of Dr. King, we must recognize that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” We need to support our peers, colleagues, neighbors, friends and even strangers who so often do not have a voice, feel unsafe, and even fear for their very lives and those of their loved ones. We need to reflect on our own actions and behaviors, make changes and demonstrate that we are better and stronger by taking action when we see injustice and inequity. To our Black students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends, the UF College of Pharmacy recognizes the issues affecting your safety and freedom, and we stand with you. Together, we shall strive toward a more just and equal society for us and future generations.
Standing unified for racial tolerance and against racial prejudices,
Julie A. Johnson, Pharm.D., Dean and Distinguished Professor
College of Pharmacy Diversity & Inclusion Committee (D&IC) Members
Folakemi T. Odedina, Ph.D., Professor & D&IC Chair
Richard Segal, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs & D&IC Member
Oliver Grundmann, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor & D&IC Member
Teresa Cavanaugh, Pharm.D., Assistant Dean, Clinical Associate Professor, & D&IC Member
Maureen Keller-Wood, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Education & D&IC Member
Veena Venugopalan, Pharm.D., Clinical Associate Professor & D&IC Member
Eric Free Egelund, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor & D&IC Member
Jenny Dillon, Student Affairs Program Director & D&IC Member
Eric G. Krause, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Director & D&IC Member
Sarah Mazorra, PPD & Co-Curriculum Coordinator & D&IC Member
Sarah West, Pharm.D. Candidate & D&IC Member
Darla Quevedo, Pharm.D. Candidate & D&IC Member
Joel Moya, Pharm.D. Candidate & D&IC Member