In an ongoing commitment to excellence, the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion is pleased to offer several comprehensive educational initiatives that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. In the first part of our two-part series, we discuss courses that promote an inclusive clinical and academic environment.
This year, all are welcome to engage in educational training that best suits their role. Training is at no cost and offered flexibly.
For emerging leaders
A unique focus on leadership development is highlighted in the "Unconscious Bias and Leadership Development" program. Geared towards emerging leaders, the sessions encourage introspection regarding how unconscious bias can significantly influence decision-making processes related to recruitment, evaluation, and promotion within medicine and science.
Through collaborative discussions, participants will explore and adopt best practices aimed at mitigating biases in crucial decision-making scenarios. This session is taught by Leisha Hultgren, Ph.D., program director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion.
For recruiters
Recognizing the paradigm shift towards virtual interviews, the curriculum addresses biases within this realm. "Addressing Bias in Virtual Interviews" is specifically tailored for members of selection committees involved in conducting virtual interviews for prospective residents and fellows.
The presentation delves into various biases prevalent in virtual settings, such as perception and stereotype bias, candidate setting bias, vocal tone bias, and rating scale bias. Importantly, it offers comprehensive strategies to mitigate these biases, ensuring a fairer and more equitable selection process.
This session is taught by Leisha Hultgren, Ph.D., program director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion.
For teams
One of the sessions offered to teams is titled, "Recognizing and Mitigating Unconscious Bias in Health Professions." Taught by Leisha Hultgren, Ph.D., this course can be facilitated for both large and small group discussions, emphasizing prevalent types of unconscious biases in health care. Attendees will engage in strategizing methods to foster a more equitable health care landscape.
In "Making the Invisible Visible: Understanding and Disrupting Microaggression." Participants will engage in interactive activities and discussions focused on recognizing the manifestations of microaggression, particularly within academic medicine. The session will equip attendees with actionable strategies to disrupt and prevent microaggressions, fostering a more inclusive environment for all. This educational offering tackles subtler yet impactful challenges.
One of the flagship programs offered again this year is the Common Thread Diversity Toolkit. Comprising four modules—Building Belonging, Understanding Bias, Cultural Competency, and Conflict Resolution—the self-paced toolkit features succinct yet impactful content. Each module is structured with a collection of three to four concise videos, totaling 30 minutes, supplemented by discussion prompts fostering an additional 30 minutes of dialogue per module. These resources aim to equip participants with tools to navigate diversity challenges effectively.
Similarly, the UAB Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion also offers a selection of education courses, open to all. Visit their website to enroll in a class in 2024.
For more information or questions, please contact Leisha Hultgren, Ph.D. or visit the Office for Diversity and Inclusion’s Education webpage. Please note that courses are optional, free of charge, and open to all. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our series that will discuss more options for training in 2024.