At the end of August, the Medical Education Innovation and Research Centre (MEdIC) held a workshop bringing together leading undergraduate primary care educators across the UK to discuss diversity and inclusion within undergraduate primary care education. The workshop also included representation from the Imperial medical student body, to ensure that our focus remained firmly on those elements of diversity and inclusion which matter most from a student’s perspective. All medical students should feel they belong in their learning environment and are able to be their authentic selves. There is, however, a large literature which demonstrates that a significant proportion of students from under-represented groups continue to feel excluded, unsupported and have been subject to racial harassment. These issues affect learning and contribute to the ethnic attainment gap that emerges through medical education. This topic has perhaps been never more pertinent in light of the Black Lives Matter movement, and widening health inequities including the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on BAME populations.
The lens of race and ethnicity was used to examine diversity within primary care education. There was, however, recognition of the importance of approaching the work with an intersectional mindset, acknowledging that when understanding experience of discrimination and oppression all aspects of a person’s social and political identity must be considered including (though not limited to) gender, class, and sexual orientation. Discussion centred on three key areas of undergraduate primary care: curriculum and assessment, promoting diversity and inclusion in the student community and institutional culture. Delegates were candid about experiences within their own institutions many of which had shared themes. Following on from the workshop, key priority areas were identified to take forward including exploring faculty development needs, sharing resources on curriculum development and fostering belonging within the undergraduate student learning environment including development of a diverse personal tutor system.
The group will meet on a regular basis to continue discussions and develop new research with the aim of leading change for undergraduate primary care education, creating an environment where all students feel included and are able to advocate for marginalised groups. This workshop is one of several initiatives that MEdIC are undertaking in their Diversity and Inclusion Theme. Further details can be found on the MEdIC website.
For those interested in finding out more about this work, please email Dr Nina Dutta (Diversity and Inclusion Theme Lead for MEdIC) on n.dutta@imperial.ac.uk.