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Commentary: Racism and Bias in Health Professions Education: How Educators, Faculty Developers, and Researchers Can
Reena Karani1, Lara Varpio, Win May
1R. Karani is senior associate dean for undergraduate medical education and curricular affairs and professor of medical education, medicine and geriatrics and palliative medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York. L. Varpio is associate professor, Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland. W. May is director and professor, Clinical Skills Education and Evaluation Center, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California. T. Horsley is associate director, Research Unit, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. J. Chenault is associate professor, Reference Department, Kornhauser Health Sciences Library, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. K.H. Miller is 2017 chair, Research in Medical Education Program Planning Committee, and associate professor of graduate medical education, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky. B. O'Brien is associate professor, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
Dismantling racism and bias in health professions education (HPE) is crucial. This commentary explores educator, faculty developer, and researcher roles to advance equity and eliminate disparities in medical education.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education Research
- Health Equity
- Anti-Racism in Medicine
Background:
- Persistent racial and ethnic health disparities in the US.
- Underrepresentation of people of color in medical schools and academic health systems.
- Learner experiences in medical education are marred by bias and stereotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address critical issues of racism and bias in health professions education (HPE).
- To promote dialogue and advance scholarship in eliminating inequities.
- To identify actionable strategies for academic medicine to achieve racial justice.
Main Methods:
- Commentary analyzing the roles of educators, faculty developers, and researchers.
- Identification of potential research questions.
- Suggestions for advancing educational research.
Main Results:
- Highlights the need for academic medicine to leverage influence for change.
- Proposes specific research avenues to combat racism and bias.
- Emphasizes the interconnectedness of education, faculty development, and research in achieving equity.
Conclusions:
- Academic medicine must actively dismantle racism and bias.
- Further research is essential to inform anti-racist educational practices.
- Commitment to these roles is vital for the future of equitable health professions education.
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