Racism and Medical Education: Telling the Full Story

The history of medicine is filled with amazing scientific discoveries and remarkable innovation, but the profession is also haunted by a history of structural oppression and exclusionary practices that act as barriers for people of color. This history influences the policies, practices, and procedures that govern how physicians are trained in the United States today. In this episode of “Beyond the White Coat,” AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, speaks with AAMC Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer David A. Acosta, MD, about the history of structural racism in U.S. medical education and how that history informs today’s learning environment. 

Episode Guest:

David A. Acosta, MD, AAMC chief diversity and inclusion officer, provides strategic vision and leadership for the AAMC’s diversity and inclusion activities across the medical education community and leads the association’s Diversity Policy and Programs unit. Dr. Acosta, a family medicine physician, joined the AAMC from the University of California (UC), Davis, School of Medicine where he served as senior associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion and associate vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer for UC Davis Health. He previously served as the first chief diversity officer at the University of Washington School of Medicine, where he established the Center for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and was the founder of the school’s Center for Cultural Proficiency in Medical Education.

Credits:

Hosted by David J. Skorton, MD, AAMC president and CEO.Produced by Stephanie Weiner, AAMC director of digital strategy and engagement, and Mikhaila Richards, AAMC senior digital content strategist.Episode recorded and edited by Laura Zelaya, AAMC production manager.With special contributions from Zenneia McLendon, AAMC director of digital content strategy, and Sholape Oriola, AAMC video specialist.

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