ADI Highlights
MSTP Retreat ADI Session
This year, we launched a new type of session for MSTP retreat focusing on the MSTP’s commitment to Antiracism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ADI). The session – titled “From Theory 2 Practice” focused on practical ways to enact change from more junior positions in the academic hierarchy. Starting with a context talk introducing our terminology and highlighting some ideas for how MSTP students can be involved in making change in the ADI space, the session then focused on an interview with Dr. Benjamin Collins, a VUMC attending and research fellow specializing in the ethics of artificial intelligence and algorithmic bias. We finished with small-group discussions and sharing out of two cases grounded in real-life clinical examples: “A Biased Scoring System” and “Structural Iatrogenesis”. Special thanks to Victor Borza (G3), Candace Grisham (G3), Ansley Kunnath (G3), Sarah Reed (G3), Megan Tigue (G3), and especially to Dr. Lourdes Estrada (Associate Director) for putting together this session. If you are interested in joining the MSTP ADI Council, reach out to the MSTP ADI Co-Directors Drs. Lourdes Estrada and Megan Williams.
MSTP ADI DIB Session
On July 26 the MSTP Anti-racism, Diversity and Inclusion (ADI) Council presented a Data, Ideas, and Beverages (DIB) session on Disabilities and Healthcare. July marks the anniversary of the passing of the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and is celebrated as Disability Pride Month. However, despite the passing of ADA 33 years ago, people with disabilities have less access to care and worse health outcomes than people withut disabilities. People with disabilities make up roughly a quarter of the US population, but only 3% of physicians and only 7.6% of recent medical school graduates. The DIB session introduced some of these ideas to encourage the MSTP community to learn more about this topic. A few helpful resources that were shared include the TN Disability Pathfinder, TN Disability Coalition, and Docs with Disabilities Initiative.