The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) announced Thursday that David A. Acosta will be the organization’s new chief diversity and inclusion officer.
Dr. David A. AcostaAcosta, currently the senior associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine and associate vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer for UC Davis Health System, takes the lead at AAMC on issues of community engagement, diversity and health equity at medical schools and teaching hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. Acosta’s predecessor, Marc Nivet, left to become executive vice president for institutional advancement at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in September after having held the AAMC post since 2010.
“As a leading voice on diversity and inclusion in academic medicine, Dr. Acosta has worked tirelessly to advance efforts to increase the diversity of the physician workforce and provide access to care for the medically underserved,” said Darrell G. Kirch, AAMC president and CEO. “He has served in a leadership role as a member of the AAMC’s Group on Diversity and Inclusion since 2009.”
Acosta received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Loyola University and a medical degree from the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine.
He completed his residency training at Community Hospital of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa, Calif., and a faculty development fellowship at the UW Department of Family Medicine.
“I am excited to join the AAMC and look forward to working with my new colleagues to develop the strategic vision for the next generation of work in equity, diversity, and inclusion,” said Acosta.
