Teaching About Racism in Medical Education: A Mixed-Method Analysis of a Train-the-Trainer Faculty Development...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Equity
• Anti-Racism Training

Background:

• Health professional programs often lack curricula addressing racism's role in health inequities.
• Developing educators' capacity to teach about racism is crucial for curriculum advancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and evaluate a faculty development workshop designed to enhance teaching about racism.
• To facilitate the development of anti-racism curricula within health professional institutions.

Main Methods:

• A train-the-trainer workshop was delivered following the creation of a curricular toolkit.
• Pre- and post-conference evaluations (2- and 6-month intervals) assessed participant experiences, barriers, and curriculum development.
• Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS, and qualitative data underwent thematic coding and content analysis.

Main Results:

• Forty-nine participants attended; needs assessment indicated anxiety but a strong interest in teaching skills.
• The primary barriers identified were institutional and educator-related.
• A majority of participants utilized the toolkit, rating all components as useful, particularly definitions, facilitation training, and supplementary resources.

Conclusions:

• Faculty development workshops and toolkits can significantly improve educators' skills and confidence in teaching about racism.
• Such training is vital for advancing the integration of anti-racism content into health professional education.