Building a Neurology Space Inclusive of Diversity and Equity: Daniel Correa, MD, MSc

WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

“Everyone could [sit at] the table, and have [a] discussion about what are the possible issues with diversity, equity, and inclusion and systematic barriers to advancement for faculty, entry into the practice of neurology for residents and students, and then that may impact the patient care for the community that we care for.”

At the 2023 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, held April 22-27, in Boston, Massachusetts, a group of clinicians from Montefiore Health System presented an abstract that shared the experience of establishing a neurology department diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committee. The interdisciplinary DEI committee is comprised of faculty, faculty, housestaff physician assistants, and administrative staff volunteers, who created a mission statement and developed short- and long-term goals to improve DEI.

As part of the efforts, a chair position with protected time was created for selection by the committee for appointment. Efforts were advanced through monthly meetings including: implementing a health disparities grand rounds series; additional DEI-related seminars to the housestaff curriculum and faculty professional development; including participation in the AAN anti-racism pilot.

Senior author of the research, Daniel Correa, MD, MSc, sat down with NeurologyLive^® at the meeting for an interview to discuss the reasons for this committee, and the efforts that coincide with the nearby communities. Correa, a neurologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, also provided insight on the ways other neurology departments can positively impact diversity in the workforce as a general call to action.

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REFERENCE
1. Abiola O, Lendaris A, Wallace E, et al. Broad inclusion of roles for a neurology department diversity, equity, and inclusion committee: working towards a future of DEI throughout medicine. Presented at: 2023 AAN Annual Meeting; April 22-27; Boston, MA. Abstract 004427