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WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

At the 2023 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, held April 22-27, in Boston, Massachusetts, a group of clinicians from Montefiore Health System presented an abstract that shared the experience of establishing a neurology department diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committee. The interdisciplinary DEI committee is comprised of faculty, faculty, housestaff physician assistants, and administrative staff volunteers, who created a mission statement and developed short- and long-term goals to improve DEI.

As part of the efforts, a chair position with protected time was created for selection by the committee for appointment. Efforts were advanced through monthly meetings including: implementing a health disparities grand rounds series; additional DEI-related seminars to the housestaff curriculum and faculty professional development; including participation in the AAN anti-racism pilot.
 

Senior author of the research, Daniel Correa, MD, MSc, sat down with NeurologyLive^® at the meeting for an interview to discuss the reasons for this committee, and the efforts that coincide with the nearby communities. Correa, a neurologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, also provided insight on the ways other neurology departments can positively impact diversity in the workforce as a general call to action.

Click here for more coverage of AAN 2023.

REFERENCE
1. Abiola O, Lendaris A, Wallace E, et al. Broad inclusion of roles for a neurology department diversity, equity, and inclusion committee: working towards a future of DEI throughout medicine. Presented at: 2023 AAN Annual Meeting; April 22-27; Boston, MA. Abstract 004427

https://www.neurologylive.com/view/building-neurology-space-inclusive-diversity-and-equity-daniel-correa

FYI:  Dr. Carmen-Silva Sergiou