FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2025
Contact: Chyna Fields, cfields@naacpnet.org
WASHINGTON — The NAACP, in collaboration with Sanofi as part of the ACE Your Health initiative, calls for an equity-focused, human-centered approach to developing and deploying AI (artificial intelligence) in health care. In the new white paper, Building a Healthier Future: Equity-Focused AI in Healthcare, The Association presents a bold framework to ensure that the use of AI in healthcare enhances, rather than undermines, equity in the healthcare system.
As AI rapidly transforms models of healthcare delivery, diagnosis and treatment, the report warns that without intentional design and governance, these technologies could automate and exacerbate long-standing socioeconomic and racial disparities. The white paper highlights the need for urgent action to embed equity, transparency and community engagement at every stage of health AI development, from data collection to deployment and monitoring.
“As a physician, I have seen what happens when systems are built without the people they are intended to serve” said Dr. Chris Pernell, director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity. “AI can transform patient care, but only if it reflects the real lives and experiences of our communities. When Black, Brown, and underserved patients are missing from the data, they are missing from the solutions. Health AI must be built with dignity, transparency and centered on the communities it is intended to benefit. »
AI holds tremendous promise for improving patient outcomes, predicting disease onset, personalizing treatment, and expanding access to care for rural and underresourced populations. Yet the report highlights that current adoption is uneven, with safety net providers lacking the resources, training and infrastructure to implement AI responsibly – creating what experts describe as a dangerous “AI divide.” Biased data sets and underrepresentation of marginalized communities further increase the risks of misdiagnosis and poor health outcomes.
“By leveraging AI, scientists and healthcare providers can accelerate the discovery of new treatment options by revealing patterns in data that humans alone cannot see.” said Crispin Woolston, PhD, global head of science policy at Sanofi.“At Sanofi, we believe this technology must be harnessed responsibly and combined with rigorous science, transparent governance and broad community partnership so that innovations equitably benefit all patients and translate into concrete improvements in health.
The white paper presents a comprehensive three-tier governance model designed to go beyond compliance and integrate fairness into the foundations of AI systems:
- Ethical and normative: Transparency, explainability, public reporting and accountability
- Organizational: Equity impact assessments, data governance guidance, and community representation
- Operational: Inclusive data practices, fairness measures, and ongoing post-deployment audits
“Even as AI promises to provide more personalized and predictive healthcare, the perils – known and unknown – require careful attention to ethics, safety and fairness. » said S. Craig Watkins, PhD, Chair of the ACE Your Health AI Working Group. “The ACE Your Health initiative is poised to leverage the broad range of voices – clinical, community and industry – needed to build an AI governance framework that is actionable, impactful and inspired from the ground up.
The NAACP and Sanofi emphasize that community partnership and AI mastery are essential to building trust and accountability. With the white paper as an introduction, the NAACP will meet with policymakers, health systems, technologists, and industry leaders to adopt an equity-focused framework that centers Black, Brown, and historically marginalized communities to shape the future of health care innovation. And we will also strive to continue to educate communities on how to advocate for themselves and leverage AI in healthcare for their betterment.
Experts and their allies agree that AI can be a powerful tool for change. Below are perspectives from organizations driving progress toward health equity in AI:
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“I believe AI has the potential to help solve some of our health care system’s most pressing problems by adding simplicity and improving the quality of care. It could also widen existing disparities and add friction to an already overly complex U.S. health care system. It is crucial that as AI tools are developed, they keep all people at the center of these approaches.”
— Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, former administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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“AI will shape the future of healthcare, but whether it promotes equity or reinforces inequity depends on the values that guide its design and governance. At this critical juncture, we must ensure that AI is developed with transparency, accountability and community voice in mind, so that innovation builds trust and improves health outcomes for those historically left behind.
— Daniel E. Dawes, dean and senior vice president, Meharry Medical College School of Global Health
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“As an executive and AI expert who has spent more than a decade building platforms for Black communities and advising businesses on responsible innovation, I have seen how quickly technology can go wrong without intentional leadership. AI in healthcare is no exception. work.”
— Morgan DeBaun, Founder and CEO, AfroTech & Blavity Inc.
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“Focus on the role of AI in healthcare will grow, especially as it helps identify new pathways to well-being for providers and patients. The paper highlights the importance of including communities in the design and deployment of AI to ensure accessibility for all, particularly for those affected by the range of persistent health disparities that emerging technologies can help alleviate.
— Nicol Turner Lee, founder, AI Equity Lab, Brookings Institution
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“The National Medical Association (NMA) is building on the groundbreaking work of Dr. Chris Pernell and the NAACP Center of Health Equity to explore how AI can transform health care. There is a clear sense of urgency to advance AI to improve equity and access to healthcare. a solid regulatory and ethical framework. We deeply appreciate the NAACP for its vision and partnership.
—Roger A. Mitchell, Jr MD, 126th President, National Medical Association
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“Everyone should have access to health care, but too often health technologies leave some people behind. AI is incredibly promising, but only if communities are part of the process from the start.
— Dr. Dwayne Proctor – President and CEO, Missouri Foundation for Health
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“Artificial intelligence will transform health care and our health system as a whole, but it is essential that it is applied with thoughtful goals, strong ethical guardrails and community accountability. profit remains firmly at the center.
— Ryung Suh, MD – President, American College of Preventive Medicine
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“AI will define the future of healthcare, but it must be grounded in equity to truly serve humanity. As I presented in our recent article When it comes to surgical access, a “three-pronged approach” is essential: we need to train AI with diverse data, continually monitor it with rigorous feedback, and ensure ethical and responsible frameworks govern it. These principles are not just technical: they are moral imperatives. The NAACP’s leadership in moving this conversation forward is timely and essential. Their work clearly shows that if AI is to be a force for health equity, justice must be built into its design from the ground up. »
— Hassan A. Tetteh, MD, MBA, FACS, FAMIA, author, Smarter healthcare with AI | Director of Veterans Health, AI MIND System Foundation | Surgeon and Founder, Human Care Technologies
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“AI has enormous potential to contribute to data-driven innovation to improve the health of all communities.
— Deanna J. Wathington, MD, MPH, FAAFP, CPH, immediate past president of the American Public Health Association
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To learn more about ACE Your Health and access the full white paper, visit naacp.org.