"At the end of the day, I would rather be excluded for those that I include, than included for those that I exclude."
Rev. Eston Williams
Our Commitment to Diversity
The American Balint Society believes Balint groups improve lives through the cultivation of empathy, understanding and compassion. The Society is committed to infusing the principles of diversity into all aspects of our work. We are committed to attracting and engaging a broad membership. Our goal is to foster an environment of belonging, where all members of the Society have opportunities to contribute their unique talents
and perspectives. Diversity is one of the guiding principles of the ABS Strategic Plan and is integrated into the work of the organization. Our Diversity Committee stimulates and supports the ABS leadership.
Diversity Statement:
Be it resolved that diversity and inclusiveness within the American Balint Society (ABS) are essential to meeting the ABS’s vision of relationships of profound trust between and among health care professionals and their patients/clients. The ABS envisions clinicians' improving their understanding of themselves and others so that they and their patients/clients are heard, supported, and empowered in caring for their health. Diversity in ABS leadership and membership is fundamental to this understanding.
Be it resolved that our commitment to explore and enhance empathy, the core of Balint training, requires a similar commitment to diversity and inclusiveness within the organization and in all activities of the organization. ABS is committed to reflecting the diversity present in the communities we serve in both its leadership and membership. We can only be what we aspire to be through engagement and embracing diversity and inclusiveness in all that we do.
Financial Scholarships
Current scholarship programs offer financial assistance to people participating in Balint Leadership Training, the Balint Group Leader Education Fellowship and other Balint activities. To date, the American Balint Society has provided more than $10K in scholarships to applicants from underrepresented groups.
Key Initiatives:
- Hosting quarterly Diversity Discussion Group for ABS Members
- Providing Implicit Bias Training for ABS Leadership
- Monitoring Diversity Progress via Data Collection
Diversity Resources
- The Goldilocks of Social Justice Education: Balint Groups as a Curricular Intervention to Support Equitable Healthcare
- Virtual Balint Groups During COVID-19: Exploring Race and Equity in a CHC-Based Family Medicine Residency Program
- The Effectiveness of Balint Groups at Improving Empathy in Medical and Nursing Education
- Balint 2.0: A Virtual Balint Group for Doctors Around the World
- Cultivating Compassion & Understanding in Diverse Communities
- Introducing Diversity to Balint Groups