Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Apr;13(2):195-200.
doi: 10.4300/JGME-D-20-01024.1. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

Improving Diversity in Pediatric Residency Selection: Using an Equity Framework to Implement Holistic Review

Jyothi Marbin  1   2 , Glenn Rosenbluth  1   3 , Rachel Brim  1   4 , Edward Cruz  1   5 , Alma Martinez  1   3 , Margaret McNamara  1   6
Affiliations

Improving Diversity in Pediatric Residency Selection: Using an Equity Framework to Implement Holistic Review

Jyothi Marbin et al. J Grad Med Educ. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Many programs struggle to recruit, select, and match a diverse class of residents, and the most effective strategies for holistic review of applications to enhance diversity are not clear.

Objective: We determined if holistic pediatric residency application review guided by frameworks that assess for bias along structural, interpersonal, and individual levels would increase the number of matched residents from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in medicine (UiM).

Methods: Between 2017 and 2020, University of California San Francisco Pediatrics Department identified structural, interpersonal, and individual biases in existing selection processes and developed mitigation strategies in each area. Interventions included creating a shared mental model of desirable qualities in residents, employing a new scoring rubric, intentional inclusion of UiM faculty and trainees in the selection process, and requiring anti-bias training for everyone involved with recruitment and selection.

Results: Since implementing these changes, the percentage of entering interns who self-identify as UIM increased from 11% in 2015 to 45% (OR 6.8, P = .008) in 2019 and to 35% (OR 4.6, P = .035) in 2020.

Conclusions: Using an equity framework to guide implementation of a pediatric residency program's holistic review of applications increased the numbers of matched UiM residents over a 3-year period.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors declare they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure
Figure
Percentage of Interns Self-Identifying as Underrepresented in Medicine by Academic Year
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Association of American Medical Colleges. DataDriven Diversity and Inclusion Change. 2021 https://www.aamcdiversityfactsandfigures2016.org/report-section/section-2/ Accessed January 21.
    1. Lupkin S. Deep Roots for Lack of Minotities in American Medical Schools—Problem starts in 3rd grade. MedPage Today. 2021 https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/medicaleducation/56730 Accessed January 25.
    1. Campion MA, Palmer DK, Campion JE. A review of structure in the selection interview. Pers Psychol. 1997;50(3):655–702. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-6570.1997.tb00709.x. - DOI
    1. Stephenson-Famy A, Houmard BS, Oberoi S, Manyak A, Chiang S, Kim S. Use of the interview in resident candidate selection: a review of the literature. J Grad Med Educ. 2015;7(4):539–548. doi: 10.4300/JGME-D-14-00236.1. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Edmond MB, Deschenes JL, Eckler M, Wenzel RP. Racial bias in using USMLE step 1 scores to grant internal medicine residency interviews. Acad Med. 2001;76(12):1253–1256. doi: 10.1097/00001888-200112000-00021. - DOI - PubMed