Dr. Francis Lopez: Diversity in Residency Part 2

RUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine

In Part 2 of his presentation on the topic of diversity and inclusion in medicine, Dr. Lopez continued describing the use of a holistic approach to interview candidates for admission to NYU’s PM&R residency program. Factors currently being taken into account other than board scores, include socio economic hardship, commitment to the underserved, work experience, and fluency in other languages. A task force also was formed to review every candidate individually. Interviews presently involve taking a closer look at structured behavioral interview questions, which can be used to measure factors, such as professionalism and teamwork. Interviewers also are blinded to board scores to eliminate a higher halo effect that might exist. Dr. Lopez then reviewed the results of the latest match and identified the kinds of efforts that should be undertaken to increase the proportion of underrepresented groups, including women and members of the LGBTQ community. More diversity is welcome at NYU. Change is not going to happen overnight. Current efforts are just the starting point. A question and answer session for several minutes followed his presentation, including comments made by Dr. Steven Flanagan, Howard A. Rusk Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine and Chairperson of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Langone Health.

Note: The recruitment practices discussed in this episode were prior to the June 29, 2023 supreme court ruling on race as a specific basis for recruitment. Current practices have changed to follow federal, state and city guidelines.