2023 American Academy of Neurology Abstract Website

Objective:

To enhance resident education on racism and all forms of discrimination in the healthcare setting using a case-based curriculum.

Background:

The level of interest in addressing racism and ethnic inequality in medicine has risen dramatically in recent decades, with increasing awareness of the close relationship between racial injustice and healthcare disparities. Despite the acknowledged importance of addressing racism and topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion at large, implementation of formal education around these topics has been mixed or absent, with no universal requirements for such training at residency/fellowship levels.

Design/Methods:

We developed a year-long curriculum consisting of 12 case-based monthly discussions between residents and faculty. The cases are designed to be interactive sessions, 15-20 minutes long, each covering a different type of bias, from macroaggressions to the varieties of microaggressions. Each encounter focuses on a different topic regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. The series is presented by residents to co-residents. A novel learning tool “RVUS” was devised to systematically approach each case with R standing for recognizing the problem, V for validating the feelings of the person(s) experiencing prejudice, U for unpacking the underlying elements leading to the situation, and S for solutions or suggestions to resolve the matter.

Results:

We finished our pilot year (2021-2022) and started our first formal year in July 2022. Preliminary results from anonymous survey suggests that outside of developing skills, having formal, safe, educational sessions dedicated to diversity and discrimination has helped participants feel more comfortable discussing and addressing these scenarios, creating an environment where they are able to learn from each other and share their own experiences in the process.

Conclusions:

Dedicated resident education to help combat discrimination, address microaggressions, and foster health equity, diversity, and inclusion can be achieved through a case-based curriculum especially when combined with a systematic approach such as RVUS.