To the members of the inheritable blood disorders community,
Let me begin with a word for the thousands of members of our community – patients, providers, partners, family, and friends – who are also members of the Asian and Pacific Islander community:
We would not be the National Hemophilia Foundation without you.
Across the country, a cruel signature of this pandemic has been a terrible swell in anti-Asian violence, discrimination, and public rhetoric. These acts are especially disturbing in the context of recent events and the mounting hostility and social unrest in the United States. The violent murders in Georgia on Tuesday, March 16th, including among the victims many Asian women, remind us that we must continue to reject racism and xenophobia.
I write today to express the outrage and solidarity of our community against these terrible acts, to recognize the fear, pain, and sadness you may naturally be feeling – and to let you know that you are not alone, that we stand with you as partners and allies. As I said last June after the cruel killing of George Floyd, we all have an obligation to stand up against racism, wherever and whenever we find it.
NHF is taking the necessary steps to promote health equity, diversity, and inclusion together as a community. On March 17th we welcomed our first Vice President of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Dr Keri Norris. She will help guide our efforts, and our community to become a better version of ourselves.
We are reminded again today, and all too often, that racism’s vile poison afflicts the lives of many different groups and people. As NHF commits itself to fight for an ever more fully inclusive and equitable society, we must stand for and with all the groups who contribute to the incredible diversity of our organization, our country, and the world.
Sincerely,
Leonard Valentino, MD
President and CEO
National Hemophilia Foundation
