Combating Racism in Health Professions Education: The Student Perspective

The series aims to highlight rising stars, empower health professions students, and provide a platform to uplift their voices.

About the Series

The Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) and the Beyond Flexner Alliance (BFA) Student Assembly co-hosted the Combating Racism in Health Professions Education: The Student Perspective webinar, as part of the “Health Education Leaders Pushing” (HELP) for Change Webinar Series.

About the event

• The Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) and the Beyond Flexner Alliance (BFA) Student Assembly co-hosted the Combating Racism in Health Professions Education: The Student Perspective webinar, as part of the “Health Education Leaders Pushing” (HELP) for Change Webinar Series
• The series aims to highlight rising stars, empower health professions students, and provide a platform to uplift their voices. 

Speakers

• Jaileessa Casimir, Medical Student, CUNY School of Medicine 
• Dao Ho, Physician Assistant Student, Yale University Physician Associate Program
• Grace Lo, Physician Assistant Student, A.T. Still University
• Yamani Vinson, Masters in Health Services Administration Student, University of Michigan
• Katrina Jimenez, Physician Assistant Student, Yale University Physician Associate Program
• David Namnath, BSc Biochemistry, ADN/BSN Student, College of Marin, Sonoma State University​

Moderators

• Katrina Jimenez, Physician Assistant Student, Yale University Physician Associate Program
• David Namnath, BSc Biochemistry, ADN/BSN Student, College of Marin, Sonoma State University​

Theme

Racism has manifested systematically and is present in every facet of social life. It fuels structural inequities, racialized oppression and health disparities. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing police brutality have further highlighted the multifaceted effects of racism and resulting health disparities disproportionately affecting racial and ethnic minority groups. Social inequities and societal structural hurdles have placed a heavy burden on Black and Brown health professional students to be advocates for themselves and their patients.

Health professions education may perpetuate racial inequity through lacking awareness and sensitivity to the systemic injustices that marginalized students face. HPE has the responsibility of not only educating and preparing students for their careers as health professionals but equipping them with the resources to dismantle institutionalized racism. It is imperative that HPE is cognizant of its role in perpetuating racism. In addition, HPE should be active in seizing opportunities to diversify faculty and staff, mastering racial sensitivity and cultural awareness and implementing adequate representation within courses.

The fight for social justice and racial equity calls on health professions students and faculty to hold their institutions accountable. 

Webinar Objectives

• ​To allow students to speak on the impact of racism and structural inequity within HPE
• To foster a safe environment where health professions students can discuss how HPE may perpetuate racial trauma 
• To provide ways that institutions can be both supportive of their marginalized students and be held accountable for their role in combating racial injustice

Audience Q&A will give webinar attendees the opportunity to engage with webinar speakers. As a result of the webinar, the BFA Student Assembly will develop a written guide for health professions institutions on how to better uplift and protect marginalized students within health professions education. The contents of the guide will be derived from the ideas expressed from the webinar.

About the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN)

OADN is recognized nationally as the voice and advocate for the over 1,100 community college nursing programs across the country. OADN ensures that the Associate Degree Nursing remains a pathway for a diverse spectrum of students, enriching the profession, and meeting the health care needs of patients, families, and communities. OADN represents over 50% of all newly licenses professional registered nurses (RN) which equates to an average of 81,000 RNs annually. OADN’s vision is to expand networks that promote leadership, collaboration, and advocacy to further enrich nursing education and the communities we serve.