The Global Health & Social Medicine (GHSM) Anti Racism Steering Group (ARSG) came into being in 2020 based on requests from students who wanted to ‘see a plan’ of the action the department intended to take to address racism and the challenges of BAME student attainment gaps.

Since its formation, the group has led on a number of projects with the aim of decolonising and strengthening the curriculum, fostering in-house conversation on imaginations of a ‘decolonised’ department and anti-racist practices, facilitating spaces of critique and critical reflection, supporting diverse needs of our student body, and developing solidarities with other such efforts both at King’s and beyond, especially with Global South partners.

The group has been a staff-student led initiative since its inception, incorporating a self-reflexive and critical ethos. The steering group works with all members in the department, often involving non-members, to action demands raised by students, professional services and staff alike. Overall, it aims to participate in efforts to achieve race equality and to decolonise education and research in the fields of Global Health and Social Medicine.

Former members of the group include: Fadak Jaf, Mariamma Jallow, Shirley João Do Nascimento, Paula Viveros Wacher, Omar Gabriel Torres Valencia.