Geriatrics Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility
A Statement from our committee chair
The Section of Geriatrics has a committee dedicated to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Our goals are to lead with empathy and curiosity, to actively listen to others and to create safe spaces to talk, share, grow, and learn. Our providers care for the most vulnerable patients in our community and bring healthcare into the neighborhoods surrounding Boston Medical Center. Our committee meets twice a month with members of our section to discuss and plan initiatives.
Meet Our Committee Members
Section Initiatives
Website Launch
We have added a section to our website that highlights the DIEA work being done within the geriatrics section and the larger BMC community. We will continue to update our website with current information and anti-racism resources.
Expanding Committee Within the Section
We have been working to recruit more members of the geriatrics section to be involved with the DEIA committee. With more people in the committee, more perspectives will be shared that can aid in the development of essential section initiatives and goals.
If you are part of the geriatrics section and you are interested in attending our biweekly meetings, please mail kbotsian@bu.edu for the zoom link.
Integration into Clerkship Curriculum
Every fourth year medical student at Boston University is required to complete the geriatrics clerkship. Throughout the four week clerkship, students are exposed to a variety of mechanisms of care for our geriatric patients.
Social Determinants of Health Worksheet- Students must complete a worksheet that prompts them to identify aspects of a patients home that impact their health and overall wellbeing. In completing this assignment students are able to contextualize how ones home environment and social support networks influence their day to day lives and long term health outcomes.
CORE Goals
Lead with empathy and curiosity – Actively listen to others instead of thinking about what you want to say. We all want to be heard.
Ask learning questions – Support those in the section and beyond by asking learning questions and creating safe spaces to talk, share, grow, and learn
Events and Involvement
LGBTQ+ Working Group
Two members of the Geriatrics Section, Dr. Megan Young and Dr. Ryan Chippendale are part of a working group that designed a survey to collect information from geriatric medicine fellowship programs on LGBTQ curricular content coverage. The survey was distributed in January 2022
We Say Gay Rally
Members of the geriatrics section attended the We Say Gay Rally. The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) partnered with passionate AGS member advocates to organize a collective action expressing opposition to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation and other bills that have been enacted by the states that discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community.
Dr. Chippendale (left) and Dr. Young (right) at the We Say Gay Rally
