Health Care Disparities


Despite years of attention, progress toward achieving health care that is equitable and patient centered has been slow. To improve health outcomes for minority patients, educational environments for learners, and research environments for scientists, health professions education programs have used new approaches to recruit more diverse learners to our environments. Realizing the benefits of diversity requires educators and learners to eschew a colorblind philosophy and instead embrace the principles of equity pedagogy.  Designing curriculum, assessment strategies, and learning environments for optimal inclusivity and equity of opportunity will lead to improved resident outcomes and ultimately to better health care. Following this session, participants will have an understanding of the obligation of medical education to prepare a workforce that is prepared to counter health disparities; will understand what equity pedagogy is and how it can be used to counter structural racism and the inequitable learning environment of residency; and will understand the impact and consequences of inequitable learning environment on medical resident achievement.