USRA - Investigation on DEI best practices in Healthcare training, practice, and curriculum,

Before we can fully address the value of understanding and training our faculty and students on DEI, we must first create an inventory of existing best practices in healthcare training, practice, and curriculum content. We must further understand what, if any, current practices and strategies are being used, how and if our faculty are being trained, how and if these practices are included in our curriculum, and determine where gaps in knowledge, skill, attitudes, and practices lie.  

This work will have a three-pronged approach: 

1. Identify subject matter expertise and perceptions by our faculty related to the preparedness and understanding of DEI as well as perceived needs in training.  

1. Explore existing best practices in DEI in health care training – both in clinical practice and content delivery.   

1. Identify gaps and recommend priority areas for faculty training and curriculum development. 

The student(s) will be creating a literature review of the existing best practices for DEI in healthcare training, higher education and professional preparation/accreditation standards. Student scope of research will include information on best practices in curriculum and health care training programs, cultural competence/humility in health care and patient care.  

Student(s)will also aid in the development of an inventory of best practices for DEI training and survey development to assess the needs and perceptions of DEI in COH faculty. 

The student will prepare and submit (Fall 23) the IRB application to be submitted for the survey to be implemented in future terms. 

Desired Outcomes: 

1. Development of a best practices inventory for DEI training of faculty and future health care professionals 

1. Development of a survey to assess the needs and perceptions of DEI among COH faculty. Assess knowledge, skills and attitudes through a survey of our faculty about DEI and how it connects to curriculum and professional practice/development). Have the survey developed for Fall pilot implementation 

1. Completion of IRB application for developed survey 

Timeline 

The student will research and compile the information above during the summer of 2023. The IRB will be finalized and submitted at the end of the summer/beginning of the Fall semester.