Moving Beyond Mandatory Modules: Authentic Discussions About Racism and Health Equity at a Large Academic Medical...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Equity
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Institutions are implementing large-scale diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training.
• Understanding concepts like structural racism requires safe spaces for dialogue.
• Virtual training alone may not fully address complex topics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement facilitated discussions as a complementary intervention to a virtual racism training program.
• To assess the impact of these discussions on participant experience.
• To measure changes in comfort levels discussing race and racism in the workplace.

Main Methods:

• 22 facilitated discussion sessions were conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital.
• Sessions were offered to participants of a virtual training program on racism.
• Post-session surveys were administered to assess participant experience and comfort levels.

Main Results:

• 102 out of 350 participants completed the post-session survey.
• Over 97% rated the quality of discussions as "Excellent" or "Very Good."
• 95% reported increased comfort discussing race and racism in the workplace.

Conclusions:

• Facilitated discussions are a valuable addition to virtual DEI training.
• These sessions enhance participants' ability to discuss racism in clinical settings.
• Creating a common language for discussing race can foster a more equitable hospital culture.