Impact of Racism on the Diversification of the Pediatric Workforce

Abstract

This narrative review examines the impact of racism in academic pediatrics. We begin with our challenges in diversifying the pediatric physician workforce and the downstream impact of selection and recruitment practices compounded by disparities in resident dismissal rates. We present best practices in recruitment and resources from academic societies and institutions, including examples of successful holistic review processes. We then shift our focus to the effect of racism on the clinical learning environment and the use of race in curricular materials, clinical research reports, and practice guidelines. We discuss the need to create new guidelines for the inclusion of race in teaching materials and strategies to teach residents to critically interrogate clinical practice guidelines. Ultimately, we examine how racism impacts retention for faculty. We present the demographics of underrepresented in medicine faculty, the impact of racism in the work environment on attrition and mentorship, and where national programs are working to fill the gaps.

Keywords: diversity; structural racism; workforce.