Learn Serve Lead 2022: The AAMC Annual Meeting
The AAMC Annual Conference brought together more than 4,200 members of the academic medical community in Nashville, Tennessee, from November 11 until 15, 2022. Leaders were ready to reconnect with colleagues and immerse themselves in group learning.
What lies ahead in medical education, biomedical research, health justice, mental health, climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion dominated this year's trending issues.
Our focus in this recap:
UAB’s faculty and staff provided in-depth presentations related to these topics.
The Heersink Office for Diversity and Inclusion’s Director Leisha Hultgren, Ph.D., presented a poster titled “Engaging Women in Academic Medicine: A Study to Identify and Close Gender Gaps in Perceived Inclusion” on Saturday, November 12, as part of the Group on Women in Medicine and Science poster session.
And on Monday, November 14, F. Shawn Galin, Ph.D., and Christina J. Grabowski, Ph.D., presented a poster titled “The Leaky Pipeline: Virtual Immersion Premed Program (VIPMed).”
On both days, attendees were welcomed into the hall and could view the exhibited posters at their leisure, as well as speak with the presenters.
Engaging Women in Academic Medicine: A Study to Identify and Close Gender Gaps in Perceived Inclusion.
Authors: Mona N. Fouad, Evelyn Jones, Anupam Agarwal, Craig J. Hoesley, Sharina D. Person, Barbara Hansen, William A. Anderson, Leisha Hultgren, and Selwyn M. Vickers
Summary of the academic work represented in the poster:
The study compared the baseline AAMC Diversity Engagement Survey (DES) results and a 3-year follow-up on perceptions of inclusion. The results at baseline (2015) revealed gender gaps in 13 of 22 survey items embedded within eight factors.
Heersink ODI then developed initiatives to improve the climate for women. As a result, in the follow-up survey (2018), only 9 of 22 items had a ≥ 10% gender gap. Statistically significant improvements were seen for all eight factors (p<0.05) except trust, which exhibited only a slight increase. For a full look at the numbers, including comparisons, please click here.
Response to the poster from attendees:
Hultgren summarized the responses from the academics in attendance: “Many of the attendees were aware of gender gaps among faculty regarding inclusion in academic medicine and were happy to see the positive changes brought about by our initiatives. Moving forward, ODI plans to conduct the survey again in 2023 to continue identifying and closing gaps in inclusion. “
The Leaky Pipeline: Virtual Immersion Premed Program (VIPMed)
Authors: F. Shawn Galin; Angela M. Sullivan; and Christina J. Grabowski
The poster presented by F. Shawn Galin, Ph.D. and Christina J. Grabowski, Ph.D, arose from a collaboration with the Heersink Admissions and Enrollment Management Office and the Office of Standardized Patient Education (OSPE). It included standardized/simulated patients and provided both the physicians leading sessions and learners participating the opportunity to work with Birmingham community members as patients. These simulated patient encounters allowed learners to observe communications and interactions between physicians and patients and to try their hand at patient interviewing.
What the academics hope to convey:
About the work, Galin said, “We hope this work shows a unique approach to providing equitable opportunities for medical exposure to future applicants of Heersink—especially those identifying as rural, underrepresented, or disadvantaged across Alabama. This virtual immersion program enhances future applicants' ability to speak to and understand the physician-patient relationship and patient-centered care, which will strengthen their applications and interviews. Participants remain actively engaged in learning throughout the program due to its inherent interactive design. These activities align with the overall mission of UAB to recruit, matriculate and educate future physician workforces for the state of Alabama.”
Response to the poster from attendees:
This was a special moment at the conference as we received great feedback and encouragement to keep this program in place. Many visitors to the poster applauded the efforts of UAB to provide these opportunities to the more disadvantaged individuals of the state. There were many discussions on future enhancements of the programs and how to broaden our reach to ensure we capture future applicants who would benefit from it the most.”