Implementation of a Diversity Committee to Improve Structural Inclusion in an Emergency Medicine Residency

Abstract

Introduction: To describe structural changes that can be made in an emergency medicine residency program to increase diversity and foster an inclusive environment.Methods: We established a diversity committee to introduce several simultaneous structural changes focusing on resident recruitment, education and engagement. Some of these changes include establishment of a scholarship to recruit visiting students from diverse backgrounds and a second look weekend for minority applicants. Others focused on ensuring residency didactics, were inclusive and addressed topics pertaining to diversity in emergency medicine.Results: We increased the number of minority residents underrepresented in medicine matching in our program from zero to between 2 and 4 annually. We increased the percentage of women matching in our program from 33% to 47%. We worked with residency leadership to increase the number of didactics focusing on diversity and inclusion.Conclusions: Implementation of a Diversity Committee in emergency medicine training programs can be an important tool to improve diversity on a structural level.

Keywords

• diversity
• recruitment
• emergency medicine