HSC Education Days
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2-3-2023
Abstract
Background: Clinical outcomes stratified by race have been used to determine guidelines and treatment plans despite evidence that racial data is unreliable at best and misleading at the worst. There is growing evidence that the misrepresentation of race in medical research may cause erroneous racial profiling, an inaccurate attribution of disease outcomes to biological markers while missing the impact of social determinants of health, and worsening of health care disparities. There is also a belief amongst basic scientists that racial inequities do not impact their professional work or environments. Our curriculum seeks to guide basic science researchers to rethink research design models and use racial data responsibly while also addressing racial microaggressions that can occur in basic science labs. Implementation: In conjunction with Dr. Martha Carvour, I developed a 2-hour interactive workshop to address these issues. The workshop includes pre-reading both case scenarios and review articles. Students are asked questions about the case scenarios which they answer prior to the class. During the workshop we review scenarios of micro/macroaggressions that could impact minoritized researchers in the lab. We then review the genetic research that dispels the concept that race is a biological construct and work with the students to review research methodologies that may inaccurately reinforce this. We then guide them through the process of redesigning research models that use racial data responsibly without reinforcing misleading concepts around race. Results: The workshop has been positively received by students 3 years in a row. We have modified the course sessions based on learner feedback to ensure minoritized students feel safe and heard.
Recommended Citation
Salas, N Mariam and Martha Carvour. "Responsible Use of Race in Research Workshop." (2023). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/hsc_ed_day/144
Comments
This poster was presented during the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Education Days.