The ASPBP originally existed as the Pathway Programs and Bridges (PPB) Special Interest Group (SIG) within the Southern Group on Educational Affairs (SGEA). In 2022, ASPBP separated from the PPB SIG to serve a broader group of individuals and organizations outside of the SGEA. These individuals and organizations represent more than just allopathic medical schools located in the southern region of the AAMC, and they are more broadly focused on STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine), rather than only medicine.

The ASPBP believes that justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential for STEMM to be successful, and strategies to increase these principles should be rooted in evidence-driven practices. ASPBP values cooperation and teamwork as crucial to solving complex problems.

The ASPBP envisions a community of practice that strives for a world in which STEMM professionals are as diverse as the populations they serve, allowing the various needs of a multicultural society to be identified, understood, and addressed and ensuring health for all.

As a vibrant and supportive community of practice, we will develop best practices needed to achieve inclusivity and equity across the continuum of education. We will provide mentorship and support to develop and implement pathway programs and bridges for students to succeed in STEMM careers. Consistent with our values and vision, we will advocate for systemic change that espouses justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in all learning spaces and institutions. We will act in solidarity with professional organizations and other communities of practice to advance and lead evidence-based objectives to transform the biomedical workforce for the benefit of the human condition.

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