Design and Implementation of an Innovative Health Equity Curriculum

Abstract

Health professional students must be trained to understand and address the structural and interpersonal drivers of health care inequities for diverse populations, particularly those who have experienced systematic oppression and discrimination. The medical, nursing, and midwifery care models have often neglected, mistreated, or outright exploited marginalized communities, particularly people who are Black, Indigenous, Latinx, disabled, larger bodied, economically oppressed, and gender diverse. Health professional students will emerge as clinicians within a health care system and society characterized by deep inequities in health care experiences. Students must have the competence to identify and respond to individual, family, and community health needs in the context of inequities. At one nurse-midwifery and women's health nurse practitioner program, the faculty designed and implemented an innovative health equity curriculum. The curriculum prepares future clinicians to provide socially and clinically appropriate care to all populations; identify structural and systemic barriers to health and wellness; seek to mitigate the harmful effects of bias, discrimination, and inequity in their care; and grow in self-awareness of their own role in mitigating bias and health inequities. This article describes the development and implementation of the curriculum, associated challenges and opportunities, and our vision for evaluation and expansion.