Academic and Research Skills

Clinical Research

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Health Services Research

The End of Affirmative Action: Conversations on the Current and Future of DEI in Pediatrics

Chair(s)

• 

  Laurel Leslie, MD, MPH (she/her/hers)

  Vice President, Research
  American Board of Pediatrics
  Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
• 

  Colin Orr, M.D.,M.P.H. (he/him/his)

  Assistant Professor
  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
  Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

  Slides

Session

Description:

Background: The pediatric population of the United States is becoming increasingly diverse.
Furthermore, physician diversity is known for enhancing educational experiences, improving patient care outcomes, and increasing the likelihood of serving the medically underserved. Despite the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the pediatric workforce; there are multiple barriers on the pathway to pediatrics for individuals from diverse backgrounds. There is a need for collective action to support and bolster a diverse pediatric workforce.

Objective: We aim to 1) review barriers to a diverse pediatric workforce, 2) highlight strategic efforts to improve diversity at all career levels, and 3) identify actionable next steps to further diversify the pediatric workforce.

Methods: In this State-of-the-Art plenary, we will describe efforts and programs to cultivate a diverse pediatric workforce. An opening session will establish the current state of diversity in the pediatric workforce, including challenges from the recent SCOTUS decision. Then national leaders will describe programs to support diversity at the medical student, resident, fellow, early faculty, and later faculty career stages. In addition, we will describe efforts to diversify the cohort of pediatric physician-scientists. We will summarize key topics and recommend strategies for improving the recruitment, retention, and support of a more diverse workforce in pediatrics. The opening and closing sessions will be 5 minutes in length. The other sessions will be 12 minutes in length. The moderators will lead a 20-minute question-and-answer session at the end of the presentations.

Presentations:

• 2:00 PM – 2:05 PM ET

  An Introduction to DEI in Pediatrics
  

  Speaker: Laurel K. Leslie, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) – American Board of Pediatrics
• 2:05 PM – 2:17 PM ET

  Strengthening the medical school pathway to Pediatrics
  

  Speaker: Xavier Williams, MD, MPH (he/him/his) – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
• 2:17 PM – 2:39 PM ET

  American Medical School Pediatric Department Chair 2025 Initiative: Resident Pathway
  

  Speaker: Rebecca Blankenburg, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) – Stanford University School of Medicine
• 2:39 PM – 2:51 PM ET

  Programs to Support the Fellow and Junior Faculty Pathway
  

  Speaker: Christopher J. Russell, MD, MS (he/him/his) – Stanford University School of Medicine
• 2:51 PM – 3:03 PM ET

  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Practicing Pediatric Workfroce
  

  Speaker: Joseph Wright, MD MPH (he/him/his) – George Washington University Schools of Medicine and Public Health
• 3:03 PM – 3:14 PM ET

  DEI, Affirmative Action, SCOTUS, and the Physician Scientist Pathway
  

  Speaker: Tina Cheng, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) – Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
• 3:14 PM – 3:18 PM ET

  The Future of DEI in Pediatrics: Where do we go from here
  

  Speaker: Colin Orr, M.D.,M.P.H. (he/him/his) – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine