A Catalyst for Change

The Medical School’s Brown Advocates for Social Change and Equity (BASCE) program received a $100,000 grant to create a new formal cohort program supporting graduate medical education leaders by creating inclusive clinical learning environments.

The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Catalyst Award for Transformation in Graduate Medical Education was awarded to just six programs nationwide.

Anne Vera Cruz, PhD, assistant dean of curriculum for diversity, inclusive teaching, and learning, says she was shocked when she first learned her submission was chosen among nearly 100 applicants, but now she has her eyes set on the future. 

The proposed Brown Advocates for Social Change and Equity Mentor Champions (BASCE-MC) aims to provide guided mentorship opportunities and workshops to better serve historically underrepresented trainees. She and Patricia Poitevien ’94 MD’98, MSc, the senior associate dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion, also hope it will serve as a foundation that can be adapted by other institutions.

They want the program, which will run parallel to BASCE, to address barriers in medical education like diminished belonging, values misalignment, and, importantly, a lack of mentorship, Vera Cruz says. Throughout their nine months in BASCE, fellows learn how to be change agents in health care, but following its conclusion they can struggle to find mentors. BASCE-MC provides GME mentors with the skills to guide BASCE fellows and other trainees focused on concepts like inclusive medical education, health equity, and patient-centered care, Poitevien says.

“Mentorship has to be intentional for it to go well,” Vera Cruz says. “We want to give them a chance to mentor with guidance and then have them develop their own mentorship style. Through that process, we believe that will increase self efficacy and improve leadership in terms of policies and programs within their unique spaces.”

BASCE-MC participants will have eight monthly workshop sessions, focused on belonging in GME, and will meet with BASCE mentees a minimum of six times, Poitevien says. An initial session will focus on creating goals and expectations, with another session offering mentees a chance to share interests and projects with fellows so they can better understand the trainees’ perspectives. The responsibilities of the mentor slowly increase as this relationship strengthens, alleviating pressure on faculty members.

“The skills required to mentor community-engaged research or foster belonging in underrepresented residents or advise on how to navigate social determinants of health for vulnerable patients are unique,” Poitevien says. “You’re in this space that is, in many ways, high stakes, as those mentors are some of the few people that residents can count on. Having people around you that you know and can bounce ideas off of in an environment where you yourself are growing your own skills is important.”

“It’s potentially pressure relieving in many ways,” Vera Cruz adds. “I think faculty members have a lot on their shoulders, as there is sometimes the feeling you’re supposed to have the answers for everything. It’s a complex thing to navigate. BASCE-MC should help them be able to mentor across differences and create a learning environment that is consistent and inclusive of everyone.”

The program will also offer pre- and post-surveys and interviews for mentors and mentees to evaluate the program, Vera Cruz says. The grant funding will mainly go toward compensating faculty and creating materials for the program. Building on the guided mentorship model will continue to pay dividends in addressing inclusive clinical learning environments, she adds.

“We want people to feel good about their work, be confident in being excellent physician-educators, and ultimately provide opportunities to tie their values back into the profession,” Vera Cruz says.

Debra Weinstein, MD, president and CEO of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which partnered with the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation for this year’s Catalyst Awards, praised BASCE-MC alongside the other recipients.

"It is an honor to partner with the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation on this year’s Catalyst Awards,” Weinstein says. “The selected projects reflect a commitment to innovation and excellence in medical education. We are excited to see how these initiatives will enhance the clinical learning environment and support residents and fellows.”