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Nfonoyim B, Martin A, Ellison A, et al. Experiences of underrepresented faculty in pediatric emergency medicine. Acad Emerg Med. 2021;28(9):982-992doi: 10.1111/acem.14191.
Nfonoyim, B., Martin, A., Ellison, A., Wright, J. L., & Johnson, T. J. (2021). Experiences of underrepresented faculty in pediatric emergency medicine. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, 28(9), 982-992. https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.14191
Nfonoyim, Bianca, et al. "Experiences of underrepresented faculty in pediatric emergency medicine." Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine vol. 28,9 (2021): 982-992. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.14191
Nfonoyim B, Martin A, Ellison A, Wright JL, Johnson TJ. Experiences of underrepresented faculty in pediatric emergency medicine. Acad Emerg Med. 2021 Sep;28(9):982-992. doi: 10.1111/acem.14191. Epub 2021 Jan 28. PMID: 33289950.
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Acad Emerg Med. 2021 Sep;28(9):982-992. doi: 10.1111/acem.14191. Epub 2021 Jan 28.

Experiences of underrepresented faculty in pediatric emergency medicine.

Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Bianca Nfonoyim, Ashley Martin, Angela Ellison, Joseph L Wright, Tiffani J Johnson

Affiliations

  1. Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
  2. PolicyLab, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
  3. Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
  4. Division of Neonatology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
  5. Division of Emergency Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
  6. Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
  7. Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA.
  8. Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.

PMID: 33289950 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14191

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to elucidate the unique challenges faced by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians from racial/ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine (URiM).

METHODS: This study is a subanalysis of data from 18 URiM faculty from a sample of 51 semistructured key informant interviews with PEM faculty in the top NIH-funded pediatric departments and highest-volume pediatric EDs in the country. Faculty are from eight hospitals representing a spectrum of geographic locations including the northeastern, midwestern, western, and southern regions of the country.

RESULTS: Of 18 study participants, the majority were Black (72.2%) and female (83.3%). Three main thematic categories were identified: challenges related to race, support systems, and suggested strategies to improve diversity and inclusion in PEM. A common race-related experience was microaggressions from colleagues and patients. Additionally, when attempting to lead and assert themselves, URiM women in particular were perceived as "angry" and "intimidating" in a way that non-URiM peers were not. As a result of these negative experiences, participants described the need to go above and beyond to prove themselves. Such pressure produced stress and feelings of isolation. Participants combatted these stressors through resilience strategies such as formal mentorship and peer and family support. Participants indicated the need to increase diversity and create more inclusive work environments, which would benefit both URiM physician wellness and the diverse patients they serve.

CONCLUSION: Those URiM in PEM face subtle racial discrimination at an institutional, peer, and patient level. The stress caused by this discrimination may further contribute to physician burnout in PEM. While URiMs adopt individual resilience strategies, their unique challenges suggest the need for departmental and institutional efforts to promote greater diversity and inclusion for physician wellness, retention, and quality patient care.

© 2020 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

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