Promoting Progress and Learning from Mistakes: Results of a Radiology Department LGBTQ Inclusion Audit

As radiology programs seek to recruit and retain diverse and competitive applicants, it is important to critically review existing department policies to ensure they meet the needs of their residents. To evaluate a radiology program's inclusivity measures, an interdepartmental committee developed an "LGBTQ inclusion index" and performed an LGBTQ inclusion audit to identify gaps in policy and to craft proposals for administrative review.

An LGBTQ inclusion index was compiled through the collaboration of an interdisciplinary committee of residents, faculty, institutional and community representatives. Five inclusion milestones were identified relating to department policy, department facilities, institutional culture, department culture, and community engagement. Milestones were scored as 0, for milestone not at all met, 1, for milestone partially met, and 2, for milestone completely met, with a total score of 10. Program scores were calculated for the 2018-2021 academic years.

The radiology program LGBTQ inclusion index score increased over the course of the study period. The program LGBTQ inclusion index score was 4 of 10 in 2018 and 2019, but after formation of an LGBTQ inclusion task force by the diversity and inclusion committee, increased to 7 of 10 in 2020. The LGBTQ inclusion audit identified several areas that required improvement and the committee drafted proposals to address these gaps. By 2021, the program scored 9 of 10 on the inclusion index.

Promoting an inclusive and affirming radiology department is an important step to providing culturally competent healthcare and mitigating health disparities. An LGBTQ inclusion audit and a robust department diversity committee can help to identify and address gaps in policy, facilities, and culture.