3075 - Best Practices in DEI Recruitment: Holistic Review and Addressing Systemic Bias

Monday, April 25, 2022

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM US MT

Location: Convention Center: 507

CE: Live CME: 1.5

Course Number: 3075

Leader(s)

Uchenna Anani, MD (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Co-Leader(s)

Michelle-Marie Peña, MD

Clinical Attending and Research Fellow
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, United States
Ololade Okito, MD (she/her/hers)

Neonatologist/Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Children's National Health System
Olney, Maryland, United States
Mercedes Bell, MD

Attending Physician
Kaiser Oakland Medical Center
Oakland, California, United States
Alejandra Barrero-Castillero, MD, MPH

Neonatologist/ Instructor in Pediatrics
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/ Harvard Medical School
brookline, Massachusetts, United States
Jo Duara, MD, MPH

Fellow in Neonatology
Neonatology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Participants should be aware of the following financial/non-financial relationships:

Uchenna E. Anani, MD: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Michelle-Marie Peña, MD: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Ololade Okito, MD: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Mercedes M. Bell, MD: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Alejandra Barrero-Castillero, MD, MPH: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Jo Duara, MD, MPH: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

National trends show there is a significantly low proportion of underrepresented minorities in medicine (URM) in residency and fellowship training programs. Specifically in pediatrics, the percentage of URM trainees has remained unchanged for the last decade, with subspecialties like neonatology, experiencing a significant decline. In response to this data and dedication to workforce diversity and health equity, there has been a growing awareness and investment to improve the recruitment, retention, and academic success of URM applicants. Through the support of the Organization of Neonatal Program Directors (ONTPD) and the Section for Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (SONPM) within the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), we developed a toolkit and now workshop, initially geared towards neonatology fellowship programs but applicable to all pediatric training programs, to further support concerted efforts and highlight examples of a comprehensive and holistic approach to the recruitment, interview, and ranking processes. In this workshop, we will highlight the importance of addressing diversity and inclusivity at your program and creating specific aims and goals to promote the equitable recruitment and retention of URM applicants. Participants will learn the practical skills of developing a holistic approach to reviewing, interviewing, and ranking applicants that mitigates bias as well as appreciate the value of debriefing and critically reviewing these strategies for quality improvement. Ultimately, participants will leave having formulated concrete examples of how to create their own program specific holistic reviews for current and upcoming recruitment cycles.