Today, @UWMedicine announced that it will no longer use race to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate. This move came in light of concerns raised by UW medical students, including critical conversations facilitated by the Anti-Racism Action Committee. Such a huge win.

During our renal block last February, we were asked to calculate estimated GFR for several hypothetical patients of different races as part of a small group exercise. We were stunned, horrified. This experience prompted us to write this perspective piece https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/Changing_How_Race_Is_Portrayed_in_Medical.97189.aspx

In March, we hosted a round-table discussion between students, faculty, and administrators where we discussed racism in the curriculum, and ideas for how to eliminate it. The conversation centered the experiences of students. It was a true dialogue and many voices were heard.

In July, we launched an anti-racism summer reading program for incoming students. We assigned a book by @DorothyERoberts, and hosted discussions during orientation to discuss race as social construct. I was lucky to facilitate a group alongside @EdwinLindo https://twitter.com/lizstein_/status/1244079511144038405?s=20

Individuals at every level of the institution—students, faculty, staff, administrators—contributed to making this change happen. The biggest lesson from all of this: cultural change in academic medicine is possible, though only when we speak up, and only when we work together.

The email from our dean sharing the news included this acknowledgment: "Please know that the discussion and ultimate decision to avoid using the equation with a race term was prompted by concerns raised by UWSOM students". To medical students everywhere: your voices matter.

Very grateful to be at an institution that champions medical students, exemplified by Dr. @rajmehrotra1122, Chair of Nephrology at @UWMedicine https://twitter.com/rajmehrotra1122/status/1265113925760069633?s=20

Black students deserve all the credit for this change. They took tremendous personal risks to call attention to it, year after year. Thank you to @NNkinsi along with countless others for taking a stand, and leading the charge. https://twitter.com/NNkinsi/status/1265123896480591872?s=20