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Dear Members of the Shock Society Community: Over the past several weeks, our nation has witnessed horrific acts of violence directed toward Americans of color. The Shock Society joins the nation in mourning these events and in condemning the long list of equally abhorrent tragedies that preceded them. We oppose racism and discrimination in any and all of their many guises. We are deeply concerned about the impact of racial disparities on the physical health and well-being of black and brown Americans. We recognize that the Shock Society and its membership must be proactive in trying to bring about changes that lead to diversity, equality, and inclusion. The Shock Society’s mission is to promote research and education that enhance our understanding of the science underlying trauma, shock, and sepsis. We are committed to providing an inclusive and safe environment for all the members of our community, and to promoting diversity within the society as well as in health care and science. We have made a commitment to identify ways in which the makeup of our membership can become more diverse. In 2017 the Diversity Committee of the Shock Society initiated two awards—the Diversity Enhancement Award and the Diversity Meet the Society Award. This committee is also charged with increasing minority representation on the society’s committees. We recognize, however, that our understanding of the adversity faced daily by Americans of color is limited. Any additional initiative requires that we first establish avenues of communication with these communities. We seek to promote respect and inclusion, but we cannot accomplish this goal without first engaging the people we wish to include. We understand that diversity is an underutilized mechanism for accelerating scientific discovery and promoting improvements in health care. It is therefore part of our responsibility as scientists and practitioners to learn from people of color, be they members of the Shock Society, of the larger scientific and medical communities, or simply Americans. We are heartened by the response of many of our country’s citizens and pledge that the Shock Society will join them in efforts to promote diversity and equity in America.
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