Abstract
What does wellness look like for a student of color in medical education? When an institution provides formal wellness programming, yet the support still relies heavily on mainstream wellness trends, what does that imply about the values of wellness? Some institutions are beginning to incorporate wellness resources into their curricula and employ interdisciplinary experts and consultants. Would there be a benefit for students to engage with sundry wellness practices? For students of color in America specifically, how might racial affinity groups, as an example, be useful as a source of support? They can reveal viewpoints on mezzo- and macro-level reconstruction that come directly from those most affected. As new ideas of equity come to the fore, there are finally acknowledgements of the extreme ‘othering’ that takes place in medical education. However, like many areas of our broader culture, systemic change tends to fall behind or only marginally addresses the issues. Having a (future) workforce that has been trained to integrate wellness into their practice can have several positive benefits. The suicide rate remains high amongst medical professionals and the ongoing global pandemic exacerbates the strain. The medical field has a continued need for diversity, equity, and inclusion that extends past recruitment and works on retention. Sustaining and championing wellness for students entering the medical field can have wide-reaching effects. Undeniably, nothing would support the holistic wellness of students of color more than a system that is reshaped and reorganized.
Presenters
Patrick BurdenProgram Coordinator, Social Work/Care Management, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Health Promotion and Education
KEYWORDS
Medical Education, BIPOC, Wellness Trends, Diversity in Wellness, Interdisciplinary Practice
