Addressing Health Disparities: Interdisciplinary Curriculum Boosts Women’s Health Education in Internal Medicine Residency Programs

A pioneering interdisciplinary curriculum has been successfully implemented in Internal Medicine residency programs to improve education in women’s health, gender-affirming care, and health disparities. Led by Dr. Janet Henrich, the curriculum was developed through collaboration between faculty members from various disciplines, including Internal Medicine; Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences; Surgery; and community experts.

The curriculum consists of half-day modules on interconnected topics, emphasizing health equity and interactive learning. Since its implementation in 2015 for approximately 175 residents annually, the team has evaluated its impact through anonymous surveys. The data from the 2022-2023 evaluation revealed that 90% of resident respondents felt adequately prepared to apply the skills they had learned. There was a consistent trend of increased comfort with the material observed across previous years. The curriculum was specifically praised for its interactive teaching methods and direct learning experiences from community members and peers.

This innovative educational approach has proven effective in enhancing resident learning and readiness. The team hopes that this success can be replicated in other medical training programs to address crucial issues in women’s and gender-affirming care education and create a more equitable healthcare environment. For more information on this topic, refer to the article “It Takes a Village: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Preparing Internal Medicine Residents to Care for Patients at the Intersection of Women’s Health, Gender-Affirming Care, and Health Disparities” published in the Journal of Women’s Health by authors Henrich JB, Richman I, Rabin TL, Gielissen KA, Dhond M, Canarie JX, Hirschman AF, Windham MR, Maya S