BLOOM-DEI: Building Leadership OppOrtunities in Medicine to Develop Leaders in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Summary

Trainees are increasingly interested in incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into their medical careers, yet few resources exist to sustainably support their career goals. The BLOOM-DEI track, first launched in 2022, is designed to build a community of emerging leaders who are driven to become responsible health equity leaders in medicine.

To accomplish these goals, the BLOOM-DEI track provides core educational training, networking opportunities, and mentored experience in conducting health equity projects. This one-year opportunity is open to Department of Medicine fellows in their final year of clinical training, or in their research years of training. The BLOOM-DEI track is designed to integrate into the fellow’s existing training program and will run from July to June.

BLOOM-DEI fellows meet monthly (currently the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 1-2pm) for work-in-progress sessions and educational sessions in DEI. Additionally, fellows are expected to work closely, including regular meetings, with a mentor from within their Division to design and implement their health equity project.

Resources

Fellow Expectations

• Fellows will participate in monthly educational series with BLOOM-DEI track fellows across the Department of Medicine, including presenting their health equity project at a work-in-progress session (3rd Wednesdays from 1-2pm).
• Fellows will receive training on implicit bias and serve as an additional point of contact for trainees to address concerns around bias and microaggressions (under direction of their Divisional DEI Vice Chief/Director).
• Fellows will develop and conduct a health equity project that will lead to a scholarly contribution (example, a presentation at the Penn Department of Medicine Research Day or an abstract for a national conference). Projects may include, but are not limited to, proposals that:
      1)    measure and explore disparities among the workforce or in clinical care,
      2)    address disparities through quality improvement and/or research,
      3)    develop and implement curricula focused on health equity or other DEI-related topics for trainees, faculty, and/or interprofessional audiences,
      4)    enhance patient-facing education on social determinants of health,
      5)    engage with community partners to address social determinants of health,
      6)    incorporate advocacy on a local, regional, national, or international level, and/or
      7)    enhance faculty and trainee diversity and inclusion through recruitment/retention efforts.
• Fellows will maintain a portfolio of DEI work, complete evaluations and provide feedback during and after participation in the BLOOM-DEI track, for at least 5 years after completing participation in the track. For example, fellows will commit to creating a LinkedIn account to share updates about their progress as leaders in DEI.

  

More information:

https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-blog/2022/october/new-chief-dei-fellow-fights-kidney-health-disparities

https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/penn-medicine-dei-fellowship-focuses-kidney-health-disparities

Current BLOOM-DEI Cohort