Racism and persistent disparities: Difficult conversations on the road to equity.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Social Justice
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice protests highlighted the need for anti-racism initiatives in medical institutions.
• Medical education faces challenges in addressing systemic racism and promoting diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide guidelines for medical education institutions to enhance anti-racism curricula.
• To share personal experiences of faculty in dismantling racism within their institutions.
• To foster dialogue and develop actionable strategies for implementing anti-racism education.

Main Methods:

• A plenary presentation at the 2020 Behavioral Science Forum.
• Discussion of faculty experiences in addressing racism.
• Guidelines for improving recruitment and retention of diverse student populations.
• Interactive small group breakouts and a discussion forum.

Main Results:

• A step-by-step process for addressing racism with faculty, residents, and staff was presented.
• Strategies for enhancing the recruitment and retention of diverse student populations were outlined.
• Participants engaged in discussions, sharing experiences and developing personal calls to action.

Conclusions:

• Medical education institutions require enhanced anti-racism curricula to address systemic inequities.
• Faculty experiences and diverse student recruitment are crucial components of effective anti-racism strategies.
• The forum facilitated emotional responses and generated specific ideas for advancing anti-racism efforts in medical education.