Gaps in medical education curricula on skin of color in medical school, residency, and beyond: Part 1

Nicole C Syder; Deega Omar; Shanice McKenzie; Jessica B Brown-Korsah; Susan C Taylor; Nada Elbuluk

doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2022.03.053

Gaps in medical education curricula on skin of color in medical school, residency, and beyond: Part 1

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023 Nov;89(5):885-892. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2022.03.053. Epub 2022 Apr 4.

Authors

Nicole C Syder¹, Deega Omar², Shanice McKenzie¹, Jessica B Brown-Korsah³, Susan C Taylor⁴, Nada Elbuluk⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
² Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
³ Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
⁴ Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
⁵ Department of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: nada.elbuluk@med.usc.edu.

PMID: 35390429
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2022.03.053

Abstract

Various studies have revealed a disproportionately low representation of skin of color (SOC) dermatology in the medical education system of the United States. This disparity contributes to adverse experiences, missed and/or delayed diagnoses, and overall health inequities for individuals of color. The lack of sufficient SOC education begins at the medical school level and continues throughout residency, fellowship, and beyond formal training. This lack of education can be seen in the dearth of images of common and uncommon skin conditions in darker skin in widely used textbooks and educational resources as well as in the lack of formal training in SOC in many residency programs. Thus far, there have been valuable strides to make dermatologic education more inclusive of all skin colors, but there remains significant work to be done. With the population of the United States expected to continue to diversify and with the expectation that SOC will be a trait of over half of the population of the United States by 2050, it is important to strive for health equity by ensuring that comprehensive and inclusive medical training incorporates SOC. This paper will explore the issue of gaps in medical education in SOC dermatology at all levels and offer a strategic call to action to aid in rectifying this situation.

Keywords: United States Medical Licensing Examination; continuing medical education; cultural competency; diversity in dermatology; diversity in leadership; medical education; skin of color; skin of color dermatology.

Publication types

Review