Accepted Type
Oral
Code
OG3-1-2
Was this work accepted for CCME 2020?
yes
Category
General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)
Type
Oral
Sub Type
Education Research
Will the presenter be a:
Student
Affiliation
Considered for Poster
yes
Title
Experiences of diversity and inclusion in medical school orientation: A Qualitative Study
Length of Presentation
Background/Purpose
There is increasing effort among medical schools to recruit a diverse student body. However, there is a paucity of research into the unique experiences of students with diverse backgrounds during their transition to medicine. This study explored how experiences during medical school orientation influence students' transition into the medical profession.
Methods
Between April and August 2019, 16 first-year Canadian medical students completed audio-recorded semi-structured interviews. Interviews explored how issues of diversity and inclusion during orientation affected students' transition into medicine and their professional identity development. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for common themes using descriptive analysis.
Results
Participants described orientation as essential to the curriculum. They highlighted the importance of the social orientation during their transition into medical school and noted experiencing complex social pressures during this time. Participants were introduced to the dominant medical professional identity during orientation. While participants noted a number of tensions, many of which revolved around the dominant identity as related to? their past, present and future selves, such tensions were salient for students from diverse backgrounds.
Conclusion
Longstanding issues of diversity and inclusion in medicine manifest from day one of medical school. While orientation may be seen as a student-run week to welcome students into the profession, it is a crucial period for medical schools to properly set the stage to intentionally demonstrate its commitment to an inclusive culture and meaningful professional identity development. To wait to address these issues later in the school year is too late.
Keyword 1
Orientation
Keyword 2
Diversity and Inclusion
Keyword 3
Qualitative
Level of Training
Undergraduate
Abstract Themes
Undergraduate
Additional Theme (First choice)
Admissions
Additional Theme (Second Choice)
Additional Theme (Third Choice)
Authors
Presenter
Wid Yaseen
Term 1
Yes
Term 2
Yes
Term 3
Yes
Term 4
Yes
Term 5
Yes
