Early findings from SPARK mentorship program at University of Toronto
Navigating medical education is a hurdle for Black and Indigenous students without a family history of medical careers (1,000 words, 5 minutes)
Early analysis of results from the Sunnybrook Program to Access Research Knowledge (SPARK) for Black and Indigenous Medical Students has identified several “invisible” barriers that stand between Black and Indigenous individuals and a successful career in medicine. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is a University of Toronto teaching hospital.
The findings were presented at the Sunnybrook Research Institute’s Evaluative Clinical Sciences Rounds on March 30, 2023.
According to Sunnybrook’s website, SPARK is a program intended to provide medical students with the opportunity to explore career opportunities in medical research and academic medicine while allowing those who have been historically underrepresented in various fields of medicine to compete more effectively for subspecialty residency placements as part of their Canadian Resident Matching Service applications.
“While there have been multiple calls to attend to issues of diversity in medical education over the past decade, medicine has remained the predominantly White profession, and Black and Indigenous students are frequently underrepresented in Canadian medical education institutions,” said Csilla Kalocsai, Ph.D., during the online Rounds.
Dr. Kalocsai is the ACMS Professor in Education Research at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and a scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute.
She said SPARK launched in 2021 as a longitudinal mentorship initiative to provide biomedical and epidemiological research experience for Black and Indigenous medical learners.
During the virtual presentation, Maclite Tesfaye, an MD candidate at the Temerty School of Medicine, University of Toronto, discussed findings from interviews with Black and Indigenous medical students—including participants in the SPARK program and non-participants.
Those students identified several barriers to success in their medical education that arise from the small number of people from their communities who have previously been through the process. Among the barriers identified are:
Many of the students did not personally know any other Black or Indigenous individuals who had successfully launched a career in medicine
A lack of information early in their educational careers on how to pursue a career in medicine
A lack of knowledge regarding the culture and process of making necessary networking connections
A lack of awareness of non-curriculum resources that could support educational and professional networking, including the Canadian Medical Association’s medical student backpack program
A lack of knowledge of the culture and protocols for presenting themselves in interviews for research positions
A lack of knowledge of accepted style and language for electronic and written communications for the medical education and research environment, including emails and cover letters for applications
The invisibility of doctors from their communities fostered a perception that it might be “too hard” or “impossible” for individuals from their communities to succeed in a medical career. This could lead potential allies, including parents, to encourage the pursuit of careers other than medicine
Bottom line: Many Black and Indigenous individuals face additional barriers to pursuing medical careers. There is a body of non-curriculum, assumed knowledge that is necessary for success in medical education that is available for communities already well-established in medicine but may be unknown to families and communities with less history in the field. Addressing this “invisible” hurdle will support equity and inclusion in the medical profession.
From the literature on supporting equity in medical education
Diversity, equity, and inclusion: A model for moving from commitment to action in medical education
This paper describes how one institution, the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, implemented a six-step framework to achieve organizational cultural change to address historic racial inequities in medical education.
The authors share their approach using this framework which they say is generalizable to other organizations.
A virtual dermatology elective for underrepresented medical students
In 2020, Penn State College of Medicine’s (PSCOM) Department of Dermatology piloted a one-week non-credited dermatology elective for external medical students interested in the school’s dermatology residency program. The following year the program was refocused on medical students from communities under-represented in medicine (UIM).
This paper describes the implementation and review of the virtual program for UIM students. Planned additions for future programs include dedicated mentorship initiatives.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the University of Missouri
This paper details efforts by the University of Missouri School of Medicine (MU SOM) in Columbia, Mo. and that school’s Department of Dermatology to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the medical school and residency program.
Implemented DEI initiatives described include small group discussions in classes, department-wide efforts, and recruitment and retention of new staff across the academic health system.
The taste of success: How to live and thrive as Black scholars in inequitable and racialized professional contexts
The author of this paper describes their experience as a Black healthcare scholar. In addition to describing some of the challenges they face, they also explain three “Rs of resilience” that “can help black scholars thrive in inequitable and racialized professional contexts.”
They write that these insights into resilience have also aided them in regularly mentoring and coaching non-White and marginalized junior colleagues and peers.
VIDEO: Why we need more Black dermatologists | Hope Mitchell, MD | TEDxToledo
At the intersection of skin and society
The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) has announced the 2023 recipients of the CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowships. These fellowships were established to amplify Indigenous voices and foster better comprehension of Indigenous issues, according to a press release from the CJF.
The award provides three early-career Indigenous journalists the opportunity to explore issues of interest while being hosted for one month at the CBC News Indigenous Unit in Winnipeg.
This year’s recipients are:
Sara Kanutski, a self-taught journalist and musician who has worked as a journalist and producer with CBC Thunder Bay.
Tchadas Leo, a multimedia video reporter from Vancouver Island who grew up in the Xwémalhkwu reserve in B.C.'s Bute Inlet.
Tanner Isaac, a student journalist from the Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation community in West Listuguj, Que.
The recipients will be recognized at the CJF Awards ceremony on June 13 at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.
This week
April 24 to 30 is National Immunization Awareness Week in Canada
April 24 to 30 is Allergy Awareness Week in the U.K.
April 28 is World Day for Safety and Health at Work
Something to think about in the week ahead…
— Will Rogers, U.S. actor and social commentator, [1879-1935]
Next week
In a talk at the 2023 Skin Spectrum Summit, Dr. Renée Beach discusses cultural competence when talking with atopic dermatitis patients with darker skin types about the triggers for their flares.
If you like Skin Spectrum Weekly, why not check out Chronicle’s other publications, podcasts, and portal?
Established in 1995, The Chronicle of Skin & Allergy is a scientific newspaper print providing news and information on practical therapeutics and clinical progress in dermatologic medicine. The latest issue features:
Dr. Michael Sidiropoulos (Toronto) discusses new discoveries in the role histopathology plays in the diagnosis of skin conditions
A review of new and upcoming treatments for actinic keratoses and keratinocyte carcinomas featuring interviews with Dr. Ilya Shoimer (Calgary), Dr. Alia Bosworth (Halifax), Dr. Mark Lupin (Victoria, B.C.), and Dr. Michelle Pratt (St. John’s, N.L.)
An essay from Dr. Saima Ali (Burnaby, B.C) to the 2022 Dermatology Industry Taskforce on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (DiTiDE) short essay contest. Dr. Ali wrote on the challenge of restoring the confidence of patients with skin of colour with the practice of dermatology
Plus regular features, including the popular column “Vender on Psoriasis” by Hamilton dermatologist Dr. Ron Vender
Read a recent online edition here. To apply for a complimentary* subscription or to receive a sample copy, please email health@chronicle.org with your contact information.
The Women in Dermatology e-newsletter updates new findings concerning dermatologic issues that affect women and the female dermatologists who care for them. Read the current issue here.
Season two of the Shear Listening Pleasure podcast with Dr. Neil Shear has launched. Listen to the eighth episode here, where Dr. Shear speaks with dermatologist Dr. Sonja Molin (Kingston, Ont.) about allergology, patch testing, and the growth of Queen’s University’s dermatology division.
And if you’re looking for a web destination for all things derm, please visit derm.city, “Where Dermatology Lives.” Please like, rate, review, and share it with your colleagues.