Microaggressions in Medicine

Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford Says She Was Racially Profiled on a Plane While Helping a Sick Passenger

Black Doctor Racially Profiled

Black Doctor was Racially Profiled on a Plane While Helping a Sick Passenger, article from The Root.

Women Physicians Face Extra Challenges

Extra Challenges

Women Physicians Face Extra Challenges from U.S. Health News

Black women are three to four times more likely than white women to die of pregnancy-related causes. Doctors are taking a new approach to the crisis. Photo of Alia McCants in her home in White Plains, New York

Training Doctors in Implicit Bias

Training Doctors in Implicit Bias Could Save the Lives of Black Mothers from NBC News

Microaggressions in Medicine

Microaggressions: "I was told not to practice different specialities"
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“I was told not to choose to practice different specialties if I ever wanted to have children.”
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Microaggressions are brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatroy, or negative slights and insults (Sue et al., 2007)
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To Respond, Take A.C.T.I.O.N.
(Cheung, F. Ganote, C.M., & Souza, T.J., 2016)
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Carefully listen: If they disagree with your paraphrase, you could end the conversation or make a statement about their initial comment. If they agree with your paraphrase, explore their intent further.
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What To Do About Microaggressions

Cheung, F., Ganote, C. M., & Souza, T.J. (2016) use the A.C.T.I.O.N. acronym as a safe way for people to address microaggressions at work or in society.

Take A.C.T.I.O.N.

Ask: Clarifying questions to assist with understanding the microaggressor’s intentions. 

Carefully listen: If they disagree with your paraphrase, you could end the conversation or make a statement about their initial comment. If they agree with your paraphrase, explore their intention further.  

Tell others: What you observed as problematic in a factual manner. 

Impact consideration: Ask for or state the potential impact of such a statement or action on others. 

Own your response: Own your own thoughts and feelings around the impact using first-person language.

Next steps: Request appropriate action be taken and check in with the target of the microaggresion. 

This strategy is also featured in the Harvard Macy Community Blog: https://www.harvardmacy.org/index.php/hmi/mededpearls-october-2018-microaggressions

Ganote, C., Cheung, F., & Souza, T. (2016). Micro-aggressions, micro-resistance, and ally development in the academy.

Where to Report Instances of Bias

Medical Student Life Advisory Committee: Procedures for Reporting an Incident of Mistreatment, Bias or Harassment

Anonymous Comment Box for Bias Reports

Read More About Microaggressions

Scholarly Article: “I, Too, Am a Physician” by Omonele Nwokolo

Photo Project: 21 Racial Microaggressions You Hear in Everyday Life

“I, Too, Am Harvard” Campaign