Bridging the Divide: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum Enhancing Internal Medicine Residents’ Understanding of Women’s Health, Gender-Affirming Care and Health Disparities

In a bid to enhance the education of Internal Medicine residents in women’s health, gender-affirming care, and health disparities, an innovative interdisciplinary curriculum has been implemented. Led by Dr. Janet Henrich and developed by a team of faculty from various disciplines, including Internal Medicine, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Surgery, and community experts, this curriculum consists of half-day modules on connected topics that emphasize health equity and interactive learning.

Since its implementation in 2015 for approximately 175 residents annually, the impact of the curriculum was evaluated through anonymous surveys. The data from 2022-2023 revealed that 90% of the 131 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 successful 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 about this initiative, 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 authored by Henrich JB, Richman I, Rabin TL, Gielissen KA, Dhond M