Educating for diversity: A decade of experience (1989-1999)

In response to tensions created by a racial misunderstanding, the authors d eveloped a course for first year medical students entitled Race and Gender in Medicine. The course, presented in a seminar format, enables the partici pants to discuss openly their concerns about diversity and its impact on th eir institution and the medical enterprise. Physician speakers describe the ir experiences with gender bias, racism, and other discriminatory practices and then present strategies they used to overcome these obstacles in their career path. Given the increasing heterogeneity of the population, the aut hors advocate integrating a course such as this one into the curriculum tha t will help prepare students to practice humane medicine in the multiracial , multiethnic, and multicultural society of the 21st century.