At academic medical centers, unconscious biases can compromise diversity and inclusion efforts in admissions, curriculum development, counseling, and faculty advising, among other functions.
The AAMC provides resources and trainings to assist these institutions to meet their goals around addressing unconscious biases.
Addressing Implicit Bias in Virtual Interviews
The AAMC now provides a Interview Guidance for Graduate Medical Education and Interview Guidance for Undergraduate Medical Education.
Additionally, we've recorded a webinar addressing implicit bias in virtual interviews. During this webinar, participants will receive an overview of unconscious bias, reflect upon how their own biases manifest, and receive guidance on how to recognize and mitigate their biases when conducting, reviewing, and scoring virtual or in-person interviews. This webinar is strongly recommended for anyone conducting interviews or evaluating interview responses.
Online Seminar: The Science of Unconscious Bias and What To Do About it in the Search and Recruitment Process
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that unconscious bias may influence the evaluation and selection of candidates – from entry-level to leadership positions – in all types of organizations, including medical schools and teaching hospitals. This presentation is designed to acquaint search committees and others with this research as one step toward mitigating the effects of unconscious bias.
More than 20,000 search committee members and other individuals in academic health centers have participated in this seminar since 2010. Read the Facilitator’s guide (PDF).
Additional Resources
Proceedings of the Diversity and Inclusion Forum: Unconscious Bias in Academic Medicine Report
This publication is an insightful look at the benefits of diversity and inclusion, and a summary of potential interventions to remediate unconscious biases present in modern academic medicine.
Video Interview with Howard Ross
Former AAMC Chief Diversity Officer Marc A. Nivet, EdD, interviews Howard Ross, founder and former chief learning officer of Cook Ross, Inc., and author of Reinventing Diversity: Transforming Organizational Community to Strengthen People, Purpose and Performance. Dr. Nivet and Mr. Ross explore how and why diversity efforts plateau at institutions; what role unconscious bias plays in these situations; and how to mitigate unconscious bias to increase the success of diversity initiatives.