A Society of General Internal Medicine Position Statement on the Internists’ Role in Social Determinants of Health

The Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) represents the world's leading academic general internists, dedicated to creating a just system of care in which all people can achieve optimal health.SGIM recognizes that to achieve this vision, we must expand our reach beyond the medical office and hospital bedside to identify and address the broader structures and living conditions that influence health-the social determinants of health (SDOH).Centuries of institutionalized oppression in the form of racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry have created and perpetuated disadvantage.These underlying social values have translated into public policies and structures which affect the distribution of money and power across society.These in turn have shaped living conditions and access to resources, which influence health behaviors and access to care, and ultimately health outcomes.1, 2 SGIM acknowledges the full spectrum of SDOH including upstream policies, midstream environmental and behavioral factors, and downstream