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Statement from NINR Director Dr. Shannon Zenk on Ending Structural Racism in Biomedical Research

Today NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins announced an NIH effort to end structural racism in biomedical research. I wholeheartedly support this effort to ensure that the biomedical research enterprise fully represents our Nation’s diversity, and I encourage the nursing science community to read Dr. Collins’ message to learn how you can contribute to this effort.

NINR is committed to supporting research that will identify interventions and policies to remove barriers to health equity. To achieve this goal, it is vital that the nursing scientific workforce mirrors the communities that have long been disproportionately affected by policies contributing to unequal health outcomes.

“We cannot underestimate the challenges before us. Identifying and dismantling racist components of a system that has been hundreds of years in the making is no easy task,” said Dr. Collins in his statement.

I echo this sentiment–and I believe that my colleagues across the nursing research enterprise do as well. Thank you for joining NIH in this important undertaking.

Shannon N. Zenk, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN
Director, NINR