Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity in Academic Family Medicine

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Equity Research
• Academic Medicine

Background:

• Diversity, inclusion, and health equity (DIHE) are core tenets of family medicine practice.
• Academic family medicine faces challenges addressing racism and health inequity.
• This study examines the current state of DIHE activities within academic family medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current landscape of diversity, inclusion, and health equity (DIHE) initiatives in academic family medicine.
• To identify departmental and institutional infrastructure supporting DIHE.
• To propose a framework for enhancing DIHE, antiracism, and racial justice in academic family medicine.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to chairs of family medicine departments.
• The survey assessed perceptions of departmental DIHE and antioppression activities.
• It also evaluated infrastructure and resources allocated to DIHE.

Main Results:

• Over 60% of chairs perceive their departments as highly effective in promoting DIHE.
• 66% report adequate institutional infrastructure for DIHE.
• Less than 50% of departments have conducted climate surveys recently, and few have dedicated diversity officers with protected time or resources.

Conclusions:

• A majority of family medicine department chairs report high levels of DIHE.
• A significant gap exists between self-perceived effectiveness and concrete actions like climate assessments and resource allocation for diversity roles.
• Academic family medicine must prioritize self-assessment, strategic planning, and resource investment for sustainable DIHE initiatives and measurable outcomes.