Impact of Our IDEA Initiative | |
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Dear Partners & Allies,
The Anticoagulation Forum's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship (IDEA) Initiative began in 2020 and continues to create a remarkable library of educational initiatives, programs, and resources, including several from this past year.
I would like to personally thank the amazing IDEA Initiative Committee members (see below for full list of members) for all of their hard work in developing content in support of our mission and goals, which include:
- Engaging in active antiracist efforts aimed at fostering meaningful change
- Deliberately promoting diversity in AC Forum leadership, membership, and programming
- Expanding access to opportunities for clinicians from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups employed in anticoagulation and related fields
- Heightening awareness of structural racism and its repercussions on health inequities/disparities
Noteworthy achievements from this past year include our participation in the Xavier University College of Pharmacy 16th Health Disparities Conference in New Orleans, piloting a mentor program for students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups at Mercer University College of Pharmacy, supporting nearly 30 minority clinicians with our scholarship program, and creating the Terri Schnurr Memorial Nursing Scholarship in memory of our esteemed friend and committee member who tragically passed away last year. Please read below for details on these amazing accomplishments and more!
As we enter 2024, we will eagerly continue to infuse the goals of IDEA into every aspect of the AC Forum. In particular, we are looking forward to new partnerships with like-minded organizations, increased representation on AC Forum webinars, and expanding our social determinants of health resources.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we collectively strive to foster inclusivity, diversity, equity, and allyship within the Anticoagulation Forum.
Respectfully,
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April Allen, PharmD, CACP
Chair, IDEA Initiative Committee
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IDEA Initiative Committee Members | |
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Julia Bayadinova, NP, MN
Rebecca Cope, PharmD, MPH, BCACP
Stacy Ellsworth, RN, MSN, CCRC
Susan Hahn, PharmD
Danielle Jenkins, RN, BSN
Michael Jones, PharmD, BCACP, CACP
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Julia Mulheman, PharmD
Surabhi Palkimas, PharmD, MBA
Noelle Ryan, PharmD
Naomi Yates, PharmD, BCACP
MaryJo Zunic, PharmD, MHA
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As we welcome 2024, we are proud to share all that IDEA has accomplished this past year | |
Hosted 2 DEI-centered webinars: | |
Submitted a Scoping Review for publication and presented the preliminary results at our 2023 National Conference
Differences in Quality of Anticoagulation Care According to Ethnoracial Group in The United States: A Scoping Review
Authors:
Sara R. Vazquez, PharmD, BCPS, CACP
Naomi Y. Yates, PharmD, BCACP
Craig J. Beavers, PharmD, FACC, FAHA, FCCP, BCCP, BCPS (AQ-Cardiology), CACP
Darren M. Triller, PharmD
Mary M. McFarland, BS
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Produced the animated video "Understanding the Social Determinants of Health," which discusses how different social conditions impact a patient’s ability to access quality health care (sponsored by BMS/Pfizer) | |
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Faculty:
April Allen, PharmD, CACP
Danielle Jenkins, MBA, BSN, RN, CRNI
Kimberly Terry, PharmD, MS, BCPS, BCCP
Paul Walker, PharmD, FASHP
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Awarded over 25 scholarships to our conferences and events | |
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Provided scholarships to 20 clinicians from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups to attend our National Conference (spring 2023) and virtual Boot Camp (fall 2023)
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Provided 3 Abstract Research Awards and travel stipends for our National Conference, which are offered to a clinician from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group, or to a clinician conducting research in the field of health disparities
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Sponsored 5 high-school students from the Global Thrombosis Forum to attend the 2023 National Conference, present two abstract posters, and also provided free registration to Boot Camp

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Established the Terri Schnurr Memorial Nursing Scholarship in honor of our beloved colleague, which provides complimentary registration and travel stipend to an AC Forum affiliated event (Boot Camp, National Conference, or THSNA) to nurses or nurse practitioners from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups who work in the field of antithrombic therapy
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And so much more...
- Hosted a pilot mentor program in spring 2023, in which 11 mentees from Mercer University College of Pharmacy were partnered with members of the IDEA Initiative committee and AC Forum leaders
- This program was designed to support the ongoing education of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups interested in expanding their knowledge of venous thromboembolism (VTE), vascular disease, anticoagulation, and related areas
- Students met monthly with their mentor to discuss the student’s career, growth and development, research/projects, etc.
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- Staffed a booth at the Xavier University of Louisiana's 16th Conference on Health Disparities
- Maintained ongoing partnership with the National Minority Health Alliance, with an IDEA representative serving on their Steering Committee
- Provided educational content and recommended reading materials in our monthly newsletter that address structural racism and health disparities
- Added “Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship” topic tag in the Anticoagulation Forum Literature Update to allow streamlined review of relevant resources
- Updated the “Health Disparities” sub-page within the AC Forum website to improve accessibility of clinician resources, relevant webinars, and scholarships information
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In the upcoming year, the IDEA Initiative Committee plans to focus on increasing engagement with clinicians of color and to continue to develop targeted education related to health disparities in specific anticoagulation-related disease states. New members are welcome to join a variety of ongoing initiatives within the IDEA Committee! Please email info@acforum.org if interested in learning more.
Download our member overview:
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