Acceptance Declaration
Accept
Additional Information
I declare I have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program.
Accepted Type
Oral
Category
General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)
Type
Oral
Sub Type
Education Research
Considered for Poster
yes
Title
Experiences of Black physicians/physician trainees in medicine in Ontario
Background/Purpose
Black physicians and trainees constitute a minority physician group within Ontario. Further, the size of Ontario's Black physician and trainee population is unknown. As an initial step towards advancing Black physician and trainee representation in Ontario, we conducted a survey of this group to better appreciate the influences of visible minority status upon their education and career paths.
Methods
An anonymous online survey of Ontario's physicians and trainees who self-identify as Black/of African descent was administered through the Black Physicians' Association of Ontario (BPAO) list serve. A snowballing sampling method was employed whereby BPAO members forwarded the survey to eligible non-BPAO colleagues to maximize response. Survey data was qualitatively analyzed and key themes described.
Results
51 responses were obtained. Data was categorized into themes: ethnicity influences on career, positive (patient impact/collegiality) and negative (racism/discrimination) experiences and mentorship. Participants reported influences upon selection of practice location but not career choice. Positive experiences included collegiality with Black colleagues and strong bonds with Black patients. Negative experiences included various forms of racism (overt racism to microagressions) and differential treatment from peers, superiors and patients. Mentorship was lacking with a strong call for increased mentorship particularly from mentors with similar backgrounds.
Conclusion
Ontario's Black physicians and trainees confront complex experiences through their training and into their careers. Increasing awareness of these experiences across medical, hospital, patient and public communities, and the building of mentorship networks may be key to fostering sustainable education and career paths for minority Black physicians and trainees.
Keyword 1
Black physicians
Keyword 2
Racism
Keyword 3
Ontario
Level of Training
Post Graduate
Abstract Themes
Physician & Medical Student Health and Well-being
Additional Theme (First choice)
Physician & Medical Student Health and Well-being
Additional Theme (Second Choice)
Faculty Development
Additional Theme (Third Choice)
Continuing Medical Education
Authors
Term 1
Yes
Term 2
Yes
Term 3
Yes
Term 4
Yes
Term 5
Yes
