Antiracism in Health Professions Education Through the Lens of the Health Humanities

Abstract

Racism represents a public health crisis, adversely impacting patient outcomes and health care workplace inclusivity. Dismantling racism requires transforming both racist systems and individual and collective consciousness. Focusing on antiracism in health professions education through the transdisciplinary lens of the health humanities can spur self-reflection, critical thinking, and collaboration among health professions educators and trainees to create more equitable structures of care. This article describes how the health humanities provide a powerful framework for antiracist health professions education. The authors conclude with a snapshot of an existing humanities-based antiracist curriculum, with suggestions to facilitate implementation in other settings.

Keywords: Antiracism; Graduate medical education; Health equity; Health humanities; Narrative medicine.