Advocacy Pathway
Community Pediatrics
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Health Equity/Social Determinants of Health
Public Health
School and Community Health
Alexis Ball, MD MPP (she/her/hers)
Child Health Equity Research Fellow
Seattle Children's
North Bend, Washington, United States
Brandi Freeman, MD, MS (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Denver, Colorado, United States
Health disparities amongst racial/ethnic minorities and individuals of low socioeconomic status plague the US healthcare system. These disparities often arise in childhood and persist into adulthood. As such, pediatricians are well positioned to affect change. However, pediatricians often do not receive robust education regarding health inequity and the systemic forces that lead to the outcomes we see today. In order to effectively advocate and meet their patients’ needs, physicians must better understand the barriers these patients face.
This workshop will explore how a unique educational simulation can explore concepts related to health equity and systemic racism. Participants will first participate in a simulation rooted in Denver through the lens of the primary and secondary education systems. The simulation provides a concrete context in which participants are able to engage with the difficult decisions families have to make and encourage participants to relate abstract concepts of systemic policy to real life scenarios.
Participants will then debrief the simulation in which they will learn some of the historical context leading to inequities today and further define health equity. Finally, participants will break into small groups and debrief each scenario in order to discuss ways in which pediatricians can better address the needs of the patients we serve on the individual level, community level, and state/national level.
Participants will walk away from the workshop with a deeper knowledge of health equity, ideas for individual and system changes, and learn a unique teaching modality that can be brought back to their home institution.