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| Anti-Racism Toolkit: Curricula |
Toolkit Home » Curricula » Interventions » Health Inequities Literature » Interpersonal Racism Literature » Structural Racism Literature » Websites »I. CurriculaResources are divided into the following sections: A. Structural Causes of Racism and Inequity A. Structural Causes of Racism and InequitySDOH Case StudiesSeeking Health Equity by Examining Racism as a Social Determinant of Health Reducing Implicit Bias Through Curricular InterventionsA brief editorial accompanying the Burgess et. Al. article on reducing racial bias that proposes some basic strategies for reducing implicit bias in curricula directed at medical students. Also listed under implicit bias Boscardin C. Reducing implicit bias through curricular interventions. J GEN INTERN MED. 2015;30(12):1726-1728. doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3496-y; Reducing racial bias among health care providers:A set of evidence-based recommendations for interventions to combat unintentional bias among health care providers, drawing upon theory and research in social cognitive psychology. The primary aim is to provide a framework that outlines strategies and skills, which can be taught to medical trainees and practicing physicians, to prevent unconscious racial attitudes and stereotypes from negatively influencing the course and outcomes of clinical encounters. Burgess D, Ryn M, Dovidio J, Saha S. Reducing racial bias among health care providers: Lessons from social-cognitive psychology. J Gen Intern Med. 2007;22(6):882-887. A Medical School Experiences Associated with Change In Implicit Racial Bias Among 3547 Students: A Medical Student CHANGES Study ReportA large study that shows that taking the implicit bias test can reduce implicit bias among medical students. van Ryn M, Hardeman R, Phelan S, et al. Medical school experiences associated with change in implicit racial bias among 3547 students: A medical student CHANGES study report. J GEN INTERN MED. 2015;30(12):1748-1756.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3447-7. Teaching about health care disparitiesThis article proposes the use of a pedagogical model, Time-Effective Strategies for Teaching (TEST), for use in clinical teaching environments as a way to teach students skills to address disparities. Four case examples are given. The article is particularly useful for clinical educators looking for in-the-moment strategies to teach in the clinical setting when issues of race and racism arise Glick SB, Irby DM, Harleman E, Fernandez A, Fernandez L. Teaching about health care disparities in the clinical setting. J GEN INTERN MED. 2010;25(2):95-101 Teaching the social determinants of healthThis article makes the point that social determinants of health are taught in medical school as “facts to be known” rather than as “conditions to be challenged or changed.” The authors argue that this unexamined passivity provides an education that perpetuates rather than seeks to redress inequity. They argue for a fundamental rethinking on how social determinants, and the entire curriculum, can be taught in ways that encourage individual physicians and the profession to foster an commitment to social justice. Sharma M, Pinto AD, Kumagai AK. Teaching the social determinants of health: A path to equity or a road to nowhere? Acad Med. 2018;93(1):25-30. Health Inequities, and Vulnerable PopulationsAn editorial linked to an issue of Academic Medicine (Volume 93(2) pgs. 145-336 February 2018) that examines a variety of issues in medical education, including teaching about social determinants, diversity, and advocacy. The editorial calls on Academic Medical Centers to do more and proposes specific actions they should take to better prepare future physicians. Sklar DP. Disparities, health inequities, and vulnerable populations: Will academic medicine meet the challenge? Acad Med. 2018;93(1):1-3. Accessed Jan 18, 2018. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000002010. Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice, 3rd EdA densely written and comprehensive textbook on the pedagogy of teaching about social justice. The material provides both a theoretical foundation and practical guidance in developing and delivering curricula related to social justice. The book covers many different “isms” but includes a 30-page chapter on racism and white privilege specifically that provides a comprehensive Adams M, Bell LE, Goodman DJ, Joshi KY eds. Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice, 3rd Edition, Routledge, New York:
2016 Teaching ‘Race’ at Medical SchoolThis article describes in detail the challenges faced by a multi-disciplinary faculty in seeking to teach medical students about race as social rather than biological construct. It provides a cautionary tale and some lessons learned about how difficult it can be for a faculty to work together to agree on a curriculum, its purpose, and the way that controversial subject matter can and should be presented to medical students. Anderson W, “Teaching ‘Race’ at Medical School: Social Scientists on the Margin”; Social Studies of Science 38/5 (October 2008) 785–800; DOI: 10.1177/0306312708090798 Structural Racism and Supporting Black Lives – The Role of Health Professionals LivesA perspective article centering structural racism and the role of health professionals—supporting black lives. The author challenges health professionals to do three things: 1) learn about, understand, and accept the United States’ racist roots, 2) understand how racism has shaped our narrative about disparities, and 3) define and name racism in healthcare and health services research. Racism and Health I: Pathways and Scientific Evidence PathwaysDavid Williams and Selina Mohammed review scientific research that suggests that racism is a determinant of all health outcomes in communities of color. The article categorizes the sections in three parts: institutional racism, cultural racism, and psychological stress due to racism. Williams, D. R., & Mohammed, S. A. (2013). Racism and Health I: Pathways and Scientific Evidence. American Behavioral Scientist, 57 (8), 1152-1173. Racism and Health II: A Needed Research Agenda for Effective InterventionsEvidence of a solid foundation for more systematic research centering race, racism, health outcomes and interventions. Williams, D. R., & Mohammed, S. A. (2013). Racism and Health II: A Needed Research Agenda for Effective Interventions. American Behavioral Scientist, 57 (8), 1200–1226. Allegories of Race and RacismA TED talk by Dr. Camara Jones, using allegory to explain race and racism in the United States Unnatural CausesA powerful seven part documentary series that documents and explores the racial and socioeconomic disparities in health in American society Race, Power & Policy: Dismantling Structural RacismA 38 page workbook for facilitators teaching about structural racism. The workbook contains both text that introduces basic concepts and historical documentation of structural racism and a series of small group exercises that can be used to teach the material. Glossary for Understanding the Dismantling RacismThe Aspen Institute, Roundtable on Community Change | A glossary of terms related to structural racism that can be useful for clarifying the meaning of words that may mean very different things to different people. Useful for promoting a clear and rigorous debate in a classroom setting. A Silent CurriculumA short, compelling essay on the way that medical education reinforces and teaches students to accept racism and to blame health problems on the patient. Katherine C. Brocks; JAMA; May 19, 2015 Volume 313, Number 19, 1909-10; Copyright 2015 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. B. Teaching Cultural CompetenceIncorporating Antiracism Coursework into a Cultural Competency CurriculumA description of a curriculum and the development process of that curriculum for a midwifery program. This article highlights the challenge of bringing an anti-racism perspective to cultural competency training and in doing so both underscores the limitations of a cultural competency framework and gives practical lessons learned on how to move from that construct to one that more directly addresses the issues of structure, power and privilege that are necessary to understand racism Gordon WM, McCarter SAU, Myers SJ. Incorporating antiracism coursework into a cultural competency curriculum. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. 2016;61(6):721-725. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.12552 . Accessed Dec 24, 2017. A Comprehensive Model for Cultural Competence TrainingThis article presents a robust curriculum on cultural competence used in the course at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The curriculum avoids some of the limits of other cultural competence training by providing a critical framework that includes reflective dialogue that allows for learning about differences in relationship to social context, medical culture, and power structures. Dao, Diane K ; Goss, Adeline L ; Hoekzema, Andrew S ; Kelly, Lauren A ; Logan, Alexander A ; Mehta, Sanjiv D ; Sandesara, Utpal N ; Munyikwa, Michelle R ; Delisser, Horace M, Integrating Theory, Content, and Method to Foster Critical Consciousness in Medical Students: A Comprehensive Model for Cultural Competence Training, Academic Medicine , March 2017, Vol.92(3), pp.335-3 The Elephant In The Room: Talking Race In Medical EducationAn article targeted to medical education institutions who ignore the larger context of race and racism. The author highlights the necessity for teaching race as a social construct, not race as a biological truth. The Use and Misuse of Culture in Medical EducationThis article draws a distinction between cultural competence and skills and tools needed to address racial and ethnic disparities in care. The health status of racial and ethnic minorities may in part be affected by cultural practices, but the authors point out that race and ethnicity are distinct concepts, and that racism, poverty, power imbalances and violence all contribute to health disparities. Cultural Humility vs Cultural CompetenceAn article directed towards medical education but relevant for all health professionals. This article makes the case that attitudes and skills, rather than knowledge of specific cultural practices, needs to be the focus of education to prepare health professionals to work with diverse populations. Melanie Tervalon, Jann Murray-García; Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, Volume 9, Number 2, May 1998, pp. 117-125 Cultural Competence: A Conceptual FrameworkThis article provides a framework for teaching cultural competence to health professionals that goes beyond more simplistic and traditional notions of understanding, and identifies the scientific and social knowledge bases, and the competencies, needed to provide quality care to a diverse population. Med Educ. 2009 Mar;43(3):229-37. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03269.x. Seeleman C1, Suurmond J, Stronks K. Cultural Competency Education for Medical StudentsA monograph on education in cultural competency by the AAMC. Can easily be adapted for use by other health professions programs. A Small-Group Reflection Exercise for Increasing the Awareness of Cultural StereotypesA small group exercise with a facilitators guide to increase awareness of cultural stereotypes Christopher N. DeGannes, M.D., FACP, Kamilah Woodson-Coke, Ph.D., Tanya Bender Henderson, Ph. D., Kathy Sanders-Phillips, Ph.D. Howard University. Diversity Is for White People: The Big LieThis journalist’s essay notes that diversity training can allow people to avoid some of the more serious and fundamental structural problems with racism in our society. 'Diversity' sounds polite and hopeful. It's how we talk when we can't talk about race, or when whites get nervous. By Ellen Berrey / Salon October 28, 2015. Helping Medical Learners Recognize BiasA review of the conceptual framework and methods to teach health professions students about unconscious bias. Med Educ. 2012 Jan;46(1):80-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2011.04101.x. Teal CR1, Gill AC, Green AR, Crandall S. C. Teaching and Addressing Privilege"Allowing" Race in the Classroom: Students Existing in the Fullness of Their BeingsA professor at the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University discussing why teaching race, racism, and white privilege in majority white classrooms are essential to the learning environment for all groups. Students must challenge task of facing their privilege. Not only should students be aware that certain privileges may cause their life experiences to be easier, but they should be made mindful of the fact that students of color are always facing intentional and unintentional racism every day which affects their comfort and ability to learn. Addressing White Privilege in Independent SchoolsAn article with suggestions to address white privilege in independent school environments. The questions and answers discussed in the article stem from previous conversations. By coming to appreciate the seriousness of the issue better, even persons with different ideological positions should be able to engage in meaningful discussion, and, as a result, agree to work together toward the creation of more equitable and inclusive school environments. Addressing Whiteness in Nursing EducationThis article describes a project designed to change the climate of whiteness in academic nursing. Using an emancipatory, antiracist perspective from whiteness studies, the article describes a project that helped faculty and staff to work together to challenge and begin to change the status quo of unnamed white privilege and racial injustice in nursing education. Confronting White PrivilegeFor teachers working within homogeneous groups privileged by race and class, providing a critical multicultural education is of tremendous importance. A robust, diverse democracy depends not on self-interested, uncritical kids [students], but on young people who are willing to step outside of their comfort zones. To do that, students must understand how race and class influence their lives and want to work to make the world a better place. Examining Whiteness: An Anti-Racism CurriculumA self-guided set of 8 modules, developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association, to help white people better understand their identity and their privileges. This is not specific to health nor to a professional audience, but the material can be adapted and is quite comprehensive. Race, Racism, and Whiteness TrainingA health care professional training model consisting of three 3-hour sessions over a 3-month period. The first addressed race, the second addressed racism, and the third addressed whiteness. After the training, awareness of racism and white privilege increased in all participants. White Privilege Racism, White Denial & the Costs of InequalityPart 1: Video: In this lecture, Tim Wise, an anti-racism activist, and writer, describes his personal experiences as a white man with white privilege and racism in America. He explains how white privilege damages not only people of color but white people as well. The video highlights many social constructs and the challenges people of color face in a white dominated country. |
4/19/2026 » 4/21/2026
Teaching Prevention 2026: Leading and Learning in a Changing World
