Methods to increase equity, diversity, and inclusion in Canadian urology programs

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Urology Residency Training
• Diversity and Inclusion

Background:

• Underrepresentation of women and ethnic minorities in urology residency programs is a persistent issue.
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are increasingly important in medical research and recruitment strategies.
• There is a need for evidence-based strategies to enhance EDI in urology residency recruitment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate evidence-based strategies for increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in urology residency recruitment.
• To identify effective methods for improving the representation of women and underrepresented minorities (URM) in urology programs.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted using Ovid Medline.
• Publications on strategies to increase diversity in healthcare fields were identified and evaluated.
• Business models and strategies were incorporated to supplement medical literature findings.

Main Results:

• Mentorship and holistic application review were most frequently cited for increasing diversity (6 publications).
• Funded internship programs and diverse selection committees were also effective (4 publications).
• Business strategies like diversity statements and application blinding were less studied in medical literature.

Conclusions:

• Key recommendations include mentorship, holistic application review by diverse committees with bias training, and funded internships.
• Standardized questions and rubrics are well-supported strategies.
• Integrating business strategies can further enhance EDI efforts in urology residency recruitment.