November is Native American Heritage Month. At ASTS, we honor the contributions of Native American communities and reaffirm our commitment to addressing inequities in organ transplantation. Native Americans face significant barriers to accessing life-saving transplant; in 2023, Native Americans accounted for only 0.8% of all transplants, compared to 50.3% for Non-Hispanic White individuals (source: HHS Office of Minority Health). This statistic underscores the need for community-driven efforts to close these gaps. We celebrate the dedication and work of healthcare professionals, advocates, and researchers who are working to reduce disparities and advocating for the healthcare needs of Native American communities.
We would also like to acknowledge that the ASTS national office, located in Arlington, VA, is on the traditional homelands of the Nacotchtank (Anacostan) people, who were the original stewards of the land. We encourage you to learn more about the native populations of your own community, which you can find on Native Land Digital.
Henry Randall, MD, MBA, FACS
DEI Officer, ASTS Council