As members of the health professions education community, we stand in full support of academic freedom as a critical element of successful higher education. Health professions education is the bedrock of American healthcare and supports millions of students from all backgrounds who go on to care for diverse patient populations and protect public health. Creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive academic health community is essential to patient care and a core competency of health professions education.
We are committed to the principles of academic freedom, as well as creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for students and patients. In order to achieve the best education across campuses nationwide, it is critical to allow colleges and universities the ability to develop all the required student competencies necessary to support healthy communities throughout the nation. Creating space for innovative curriculum on complex issues is fundamental to the mission of educational institutions of health professions. The study of our nation’s diverse populations is vital for the advancement of medicine, public health, and economic prosperity.
Open dialogue in higher education reduces bias and promotes trust between students and healthcare professions educators, and healthcare providers and patients. Enabling health professions educators to provide necessary academic content, that covers the full diversity of the patients future healthcare providers will serve, strengthens breakthrough advancements in healthcare and allows our nation to continue its leadership in the field. Those trained in health professions are equipped to develop breakthroughs, which in turn generates economic growth to benefit our entire society.
The Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP) comprises 19 associations representing a health professions education community that includes 7,429 programs, institutions, hospitals, and health systems, and more than 1.3 million students, faculty, clinicians, administrators, residents, and researchers.
Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
American Council of Academic Physical Therapy
American Dental Education Association
American Occupational Therapy Association
American Physical Therapy Association
American Psychological Association
Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges
Association of American Medical Colleges
American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges
Association of Chiropractic Colleges
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions
Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health
Association of University Programs in Health Administration
Council on Social Work Education
PA Education Association
