A Blueprint for Increasing Ethnic and Racial Diversity in U.S. Residency Training Programs
Paris D Butler1, Jessica C Fowler2, Elana Meer3
1P.D. Butler is associate professor, Department of Surgery, and vice chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Summary
Racial and ethnic diversity in residency programs significantly increased through a multipronged approach. This initiative boosted underrepresented in medicine (UIM) representation without impacting program metrics or candidate scores.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Health Equity
- Workforce Diversity
Background:
- Racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the U.S. physician workforce.
- Academic health centers must address diversity at the residency training level.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a multipronged approach to enhance diversity and inclusion (D&I) in residency programs.
- To report demographic changes and key metrics over a 6-year period.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of an underrepresented in medicine (UIM) professional network.
- UIM-focused visiting clerkship programs.
- Holistic review by selection committees and targeted outreach.
- Oversight by a designated institutional official for UIM Affairs.
Main Results:
- Underrepresented in medicine (UIM) representation among interviewed candidates rose from 12.1% to 23.2%.
- UIM representation among matched residents increased from 8.7% to 26.4% over 6 years.
- Key metrics, including program fill rates and USMLE Step 1 scores, remained stable.
Conclusions:
- A purposeful D&I strategy significantly increased UIM representation in residency programs.
- These findings support the consideration of similar initiatives nationwide.
- Enhancing diversity can be achieved without compromising academic or clinical standards.
Related Concept Videos
02:55Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
91.3K
Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who...
91.3K
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
84
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
84
02:16Surveys
15.2K
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.
15.2K
04:49Robbers Cave
14.4K
During the 1950s, the landmark Robbers Cave experiment demonstrated that when groups must compete with one another, intergroup conflict, hostility, and even violence may result. At the Oklahoman summer camp, two troops of boys—termed the Rattlers and the Eagles—took part in a week-long tournament. During this time, their negativity culminated in derogatory name-calling, fistfights, and even vandalism and destruction of property. However, this work also revealed that such tension...
14.4K
01:31Confirmation Biases
7.1K
The confirmation bias is the tendency to focus on information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that is inconsistent with our expectations. For example, if you think that your professor is not very nice, you notice all of the instances of rude behavior exhibited by the professor while ignoring the countless pleasant interactions he is involved in on a daily basis. Have you ever fallen prey to the confirmation bias, either as the source or target of such bias?
7.1K
01:30Community Based Intervention
89
Community-based interventions in mental health represent a paradigm shift from institution-centered care to treatments embedded within the fabric of local communities. By prioritizing inclusion and leveraging existing societal structures, this approach fosters a supportive environment conducive to addressing mental health challenges while promoting individual dignity and agency.
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
89