Preparing to Serve a Diverse Patient Population: A Novel Diversity and Inclusion Course for Health Professions Students
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The Honors project is potentially the most valuable component of an Honors education. Typically Honors students choose to do their projects in their area of study, but some will pick a topic of interest unrelated to their major.
The Honors Program requires that the project be presented at a poster presentation event. Poster presentations are held each semester. Most students present during their senior year, but may do so earlier if their honors project has been completed.
This site presents project descriptions and selected posters for Honors projects completed since the Fall 2015 semester.
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Abstract
According to the US Census and other population-wide assessments, the demographic diversity of the US population will change dramatically over the next several decades. As such, health professions (HP) students must prepare to serve a diverse patient population. This project consisted of the development, teaching, and evaluation of a diversity and inclusion course for HP students. The eight-week course covered introductory concepts (identity, privilege, oppression), six core topics (socioeconomic status, gender/sex/sexuality, religion/spirituality, ability status/rare diseases, race/ethnicity, obesity/weight bias) and contemporary issues (veterans’ health, pregnancy status, age). Class periods involved lectures, guest speakers, and activities such as TED Talk discussions. Four HP students participated in the course, and their achievement of four course objectives related to gaining knowledge of and understanding the diverse components of human identity was evaluated through assessments, reflections, and an exit interview. Student feedback was also obtained. Results from qualitative analyses indicated that students demonstrated growth for each of the course objectives for each core topic. Student feedback suggested a desire for more information about each core topic and additional guest speakers. In total, this project provided education to HP students, and its results can be used to enhance future diversity and inclusion education initiatives.