Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Hospital Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In nearly all areas of academic medicine, disparities still exist for women and underrepresented minorities (URMs). OBJECTIVES: Develop a strategic plan for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); implement and evaluate the plan, specifically focusing on compensation, recruitment, and policies. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Programmatic evaluation conducted in the division of hospital medicine (DHM) at a major academic medical center involving DHM faculty and staff. MEASUREMENTS: (1) Development and implementation of strategic plan, including policies, processes, and practices related to key components of DEI program; (2) assessment of specific DEI outcomes, including plan implementation, pre-post salary data disparities based on academic rank, and pre-post disparities for protected time for similar roles. RESULTS: Using information gathered from a focus group with DHM faculty, an iterative strategic plan for DEI was developed and deployed, with key components of focus being institutional structures, our people, our environments, and our core mission areas. A director of DEI was established to help oversee these efforts. Using a two-phase approach, salary disparities by rank were eliminated. Internally funded protected time was standardized for leadership roles. A data dashboard has been developed to track high-level successes and areas for future focus. CONCLUSION: Using a systematic evidence-based approach with key stakeholder involvement, a division-wide DEI strategy was developed and implemented. While this work is ongoing, short-term wins are possible, in particular around salary equity and development of policies and structures to promote DEI.

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