Supporting Inclusive Learning Environments and Professional Development in Medical Education Through an Identity and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Social Sciences in Medicine
• Health Equity

Background:

• Increasing student interest in sociopolitical issues and identity at Pritzker School of Medicine.
• Formation of an Identity and Inclusion Steering Committee to address student needs.
• Committee charged with developing programs for an inclusive learning environment and respectful communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the structure and initiatives of the Identity and Inclusion Steering Committee.
• To create an inclusive student community at Pritzker through civil discourse.
• To evaluate the impact of the committee's work on student sense of inclusion and respect.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a continuous quality improvement strategy.
• Regular iterative evaluation and ongoing school-wide engagement.
• Responsiveness to emerging issues and concerns regarding identity.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in students' sense of inclusion over a 4-year period.
• Enhanced respect for diverse perspectives on identity-related issues.
• Positive impact on medical training for diverse patient populations.

Conclusions:

• Continuous quality improvement, social justice, tolerance, and civil discourse build community inclusion.
• These strategies enhance medical training for caring for diverse patients.
• Principles and challenges for developing inclusive student communities are discussed.