Abstract Details

Title Creating a Neurology Department Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

Topic Health Care Disparities

Presentation(s) Health Care Disparities Posters (7:00 AM-5:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 003

Background Within academic neurology departments there are disproportionately few trainees and faculty who identify as under-represented minorities (URMs) as compared to the general population. Additionally, structural and institutional anti-Black racism is a core underlying cause of healthcare disparities including in neurology. Increasing URM representation in neurology may aid in reducing health disparities and medical mistrust among marginalized populations.

Objective To describe the development of a Neurology Department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.

Design/Methods Our faculty, staff, and trainees recognized the need for increased diversity and awareness within our Neurology Department. Our Department Chair appointed an initial Task Force who created a mission statement and goals for the committee after which additional members thought to be drivers of change were invited to join. These members included faculty, trainees, and staff.

Results

The committee has so far met monthly for one year with representation from faculty, residents and staff. We have initiated a Neurology Grand Rounds curriculum highlighting health disparities in neurology monthly. Major activities have also included hiring faculty and recruiting residents from URM backgrounds and discussion about methods to provide more exposure to students of color to neurology, free dialogue about systemic racism and social injustice as it relates to our Department,, and fostering broader departmental dialogue in a Town Hall setting to discuss race and inequality and their impact on members in our Department.

Conclusions Creating a DEI Committee within a Neurology Department can have a large direct benefit for faculty, trainees, and staff but downstream for our diverse patient population. Providing an open forum for discussion, identification of educational and recruitment priorities, and improving access to education for URM students to increase the neurology pipeline can improve workforce inclusion and diversity. We encourage all neurology departments across the country to consider a DEI committee in order to recognize and address these disparities.

Authors/Disclosures
Jasmin Harpe, MD (Mount Sinai Hospital) PRESENTER	Dr. Harpe has nothing to disclose.
Joseph E. Safdieh, MD, FAAN (Weill Medical College of Cornell University)	Dr. Safdieh has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for AAN. Dr. Safdieh has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Dughi, Hewit & Domalewski, P.C.. Dr. Safdieh has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.
Susan W. Broner, MD (Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Neurology)	Dr. Broner has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Linpharma. Dr. Broner has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin LLP.
Greta R. Strong, EdD (Weill Cornell Medicine)	Ms. Strong has nothing to disclose.
Matthew S. Robbins, MD, FAAN (Weill Cornell Medicine)	Dr. Robbins has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Springer. Dr. Robbins has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Robbins has a non-compensated relationship as a Board of Directors member, Education Program speaker with American Headache Society that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Robbins has a non-compensated relationship as a Board of Directors member, Education Program speaker with New York State Neurological Society that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Robbins has a non-compensated relationship as a Editorial Board Member with Continuum, American Academy of Neurology that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.