A Learning Assessment to Increase Diversity in Academic Health Sciences

Strategies and innovations to advance racial and ethnic equity in recruitment, promotion, and retention at academic health science institutions are needed.

This learning assessment aims to isolate evidence-based strategies to advance racial equity in the academic health sciences, which have implications for policy and institution-level interventions.

This learning assessment used a mixed-methods approach, including a quantitative survey, qualitative in-depth interviews, and a scoping literature review. Survey respondents were recruited from outreach lists that included researchers working with racial and ethnic minoritized populations. In-depth interviews were conducted among 60 university administrators, faculty/staff, scholars, students, and individuals affiliated with governmental, nongovernmental, and identity-based professional associations. A search of the literature in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, ERIC, Education Source, Academic Search Ultimate, and CINAHL was conducted for the scoping review. The scoping review included 366 primary articles of studies evaluating strategies to advance racial and ethnic equity at academic health science institutions.

The survey yielded analyzable results from 328 individuals, including faculty, students, administrators, or staff, and individuals not currently employed at or enrolled full time at a university or college. The interviews included 60 participants with a mean (SD) age of 49.3 (16.5) years, and 39 (65%) were female. The scoping review included 366 primary research articles that met inclusion criteria for analysis. Data were analyzed individually across the survey, interviews, and scoping review, and findings were triangulated. While each of the 3 assessments yielded unique findings, 13 common themes emerged across all project components. Results revealed strategies implemented and evaluated successfully, as well as challenges and barriers to advancing equity in the academic health sciences.

In this study, 13 meaningful strategies emerged across the survey, in-depth interviews, and scoping review. Through triangulation of findings, recommendations of actionable steps were made.