Presentation Type: Workshop

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Presentation Time: 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM

Abstract Keywords: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA), Health Equity, Legal, Ethical, Social and Regulatory Issues
Primary Track: Applications

Since January 2025, biomedical and health informatics researchers in the U.S. have faced major shifts in federal policy and rapidly evolving guidelines that directly affect how data is gathered, analyzed, reported, and communicated. Those conducting equity-focused research have been confronted with challenges—such as limitations to health services, revocation of grant funding, shifts in institutional priorities, and language restrictions to describe their work and expertise—which pose major setbacks to years of research progress around the world.

Despite these challenges, AMIA affirms its focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, recognizing these concepts as pillars that strengthen our scientific community. Specifically, inclusive language is essential for formulating research questions, identifying and collaborating with study participants, interpreting findings, and assessing the impact of results with the broader scientific community. Since 2023, the AMIA Board of Directors has endorsed the Inclusive Language and Context Style Guidelines (ILCSG), a public resource that supports rigorous and ethical research.

The purpose of this workshop is to (1) share challenges the AMIA community is experiencing in applying the ILCSG to their current scientific research and communications, (2) discuss how to navigate the quickly-evolving U.S. policy landscape and its impact on research efforts, and (3) identify practical, actionable ways to support fellow informatics researchers. We will invite experts within AMIA to share the current state of policy, clinical, and research challenges. Interactive group discussions will generate productive strategies to address these challenges. Furthermore, we will gather input on adapting the application and dissemination of the ILCSG while still meeting the needs of the AMIA community.

This workshop aligns with the mission of the AMIA DEI Communications Subcommittee. We amplify diverse expertise within AMIA and advocate for implementing inclusive language principles: Plurality, Precision, Transparency, and Destigmatization. We provide resources that help researchers incorporate these principles into their scientific practice.

Speakers:
Sadia Akter, PhD, FAMIA
Marshall University Joan C. Edward School of Medicine

Jungwei Fan, Ph.D.
Mayo Clinic

Jessica Ancker, MPH, PhD, FACMI
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Samantha Stonbraker, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Donghua Tao, PhD, MA, MS, FAMIA
University of Illinois - Chicago

Anthony Solomonides, PhD, MSc(Math), MSc(AI), FAMIA, FACMI
Research Institute, Endeavor Health

Shefali Haldar, PhD
Merck & Co., Inc.

Authors:
Shefali Haldar, PhD - Merck & Co., Inc.; Sadia Akter, PhD, FAMIA - Marshall University Joan C. Edward School of Medicine; Jungwei Fan, Ph.D. - Mayo Clinic;

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