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Recommendations to improve recruitment and retention of underrepresented in medicine trainees in neonatal-perinatal medicine

Journal of Perinatology volume 43, pages 540–545 (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

Physicians who identify as Black, Latinx, American Indian, Pacific Islander, and certain Asian subgroups represent racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in medicine (URM). While the proportion of URM pediatric trainees has remained unchanged, that of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) fellows has decreased. Informed by the medical literature and our lived experiences, we compiled and developed a list of recommendations to support NPM fellowship programs in the recruitment, retention, and promotion of URM trainees. We describe ten recommendations that address 1) creating a culture of inclusivity and psychological safety, 2) the critical appraisal of recruitment practices and climate, and 3) an inclusive and holistic fellowship application process. The first two themes lay the foundation, while the final theme spotlights our recommendations for URM recruitment. Each recommendation is a step towards improvement in recruitment and inclusion at a program.

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Fig. 1: Checklist of Recommendations and Best Practices for Recruitment and Retention of URM trainees.
Fig. 2: Conceptual framework for improvement of recruitment and retention of URM trainees and faculty.
Fig. 3: Example key driver diagram for quality improvement approach to recruitment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge members of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (SONPM) Organization of Neonatal Training Program Directors (ONTPD) and Trainees and Early Career Neonatologists (TECaN) DEI Working Group, including Drs. Heather French, Patrick Myers, Dmitry Dukhovny, and Maria Gillam-Krakauer. They also thank their medical school, residency, and fellowship programs. Specifically, they thank their mentors and URM organizations (national and local) for their support and encouragement. Most importantly, they thank the trailblazing URM physicians who forged the path ahead of them and serve as role models.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Michelle-Marie Peña

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Michelle-Marie Peña

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA

    Elizabeth Bonachea

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA

    Mercedes Bell

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Joanne Duara

  6. Division of Neonatology, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    Ololade Okito

  7. Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA

    Ololade Okito

  8. Division of Neonatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Alejandra Barrero-Castillero

  9. Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Alejandra Barrero-Castillero

  10. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA

    Uchenna E. Anani

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Contributions

MMP, EB, MB, JD, OO, B-C, and UEA conceptualized the initial manuscript, reviewed and critically revised the manuscript. MMP drafted the initial manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work

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Correspondence to Michelle-Marie Peña.

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Peña, MM., Bonachea, E., Bell, M. et al. Recommendations to improve recruitment and retention of underrepresented in medicine trainees in neonatal-perinatal medicine. J Perinatol 43, 540–545 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01552-w

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