Advancing Diversity in Academic Pediatrics

An important entry point to our diversity and inclusion efforts is the Advancing Diversity in Academic Pediatrics Program. Established in 2015, the goal of the Advancing Diversity in Academic Pediatrics Program is to enhance the diversity of academic pediatricians through exposing senior medical students from races and ethnicity underrepresented in medicine (UIM) to academic pediatrics. To date, the Advancing Diversity in Academic Pediatrics Program has hosted 62 visiting senior medical schools and aims to:

• Provide a clinical experience where the student is the front-line provider in a quaternary care, free-standing children’s hospital
• Enable participants to develop a vision of themselves in academic careers
• Drive robust mentoring relationships and empower the participants with strategies for managing mentor relationships
• Encourage the use of their voices as advocates for diversity in academic medicine

Furthermore, each scholar meets with members of program, educational and hospital leadership to demystify the leadership structure, view multiple career journeys and have the opportunity to discuss different perspectives on career advice. Students develop a close relationship with the Advancing Diversity in Academic Pediatrics Program Director, who serves as longitudinal career mentor to many participants. Each student is assigned both a resident and faculty mentor. These relationships are important for community formation for our students and have immeasurable impacts on our program’s culture and pipeline to not only residency but fellowship, faculty and institutional leadership. We are also pleased to note that interest in careers in academic pediatrics increased significantly after participation. Despite the restrictions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, our institutional commitment to the Advancing Diversity in Academic Pediatrics Program and to building diversity at large has not wavered. We have modified our program to be able to virtually host all students when visiting clerkships are not possible. We are committed to continuing to ensure that our applicants receive the same level of career development, networking and mentorship for which our program is known.