Specialty Respect

A head and shoulders view of a male wearing a surgical mask with words indicating disrespect superimposed

What is Specialty Disrespect?

“One element of the hidden curriculum, encompassing unwarranted, negative, and denigrating comments made by trainees and physicians about different specialties.” (Alston, 2019)

In the fall of 2020, we surveyed Georgetown medical school students about their knowledge of specialty disrespect and how it has personally affected them. 71 students responded.

31%of respondents states these comments have affected their career decisions
21%of respondents states these comments affected team dynamics within hospitals
38%of respondents stated they had disparaged a specialty
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View the full Specialty Disrespect Gallery

Poster #1:

[Background picture of female in surgery mask in yellow]

[At top]

“Specialty disrespect creates feelings of exclusion”

[Text enclosed in blocked quotes]

“Emergency Medicine is for people without attention spans/for people with ADHD”

Poster #2:

[Background picture of male standing in surgery mask and doctors coat outside of hospital in blue]

[At top]

“Specialty disrespect perpetuates stereotypes”

[Text enclosed in blocked quotes]

“Anesthesiologists are the doctors that didn’t actually want to be doctors”

Poster #3:

[Background picture of female in surgery mask and cap in pink]

[At top]

“Specialty disrespect can amplify inequity”

[Text enclosed in blocked quotes]

“Don’t go into OB/GYN unless you hate your life”

Poster #4:

[Background picture of man in surgical PPE staring at his phone in red]

[At top]

“Specialty disrespect normalizes demeaning and untrue messages”

[Text enclosed in blocked quotes in yellow]

“You probably failed your step exam and had to settle for family medicine”

Poster #5:

[Background picture of person in surgery mask, goggles, and cap in green]

[At top in yellow]

“Specialty disrespect can be the reason for one less physician”

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“Why would someone waste their intelligence on dermatology? I want a specialty that actually helps people”

Specialty Disrespect is a Microaggression

Microaggressions are brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative slights and insults (Sue et al., 2007)

Learn how Specialty Disrespect is a Microaggression

How to Respond to Microaggressions

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Bystander intervention methods:

  • Distract
  • Direct
  • Delegate
  • Document
  • Delay
Two stick figures, with one pointing his hand to the other a speech bubble above head, text appears below

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

  • Ask: Clarifying questions to assist with understanding 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: Explain what you observed as problematic in a factual manner.
  • Impact Consideration: Ask for or state the potential impact of such a statement or action.
  • Own Your Response: Own your own thoughts and feelings around the impact.
  • Next Steps: Request appropriate action be taken and check in.
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Tips to Response to Microaggressions and Bias

Adapted from Diane Goodman

  1. Restate, clarify, acknowledge, and separate intent from impact
  2. Share your process, express your feelings, and challenge the stereotype.
  3. Promote empathy
  4. Appeal to values or pretend you don’t understand
  5. Remind them of the rules

Learn About the Most Disrespected Specialties

Three medical professionals walk together in a hallway
Internal Medicine
A female doctor discusses a chart with a female patient who is seated in an exam room
OB/GYN
Microscopic view of a pathology specimen
Pathology
Closeup of hands in exam gloves holding an instrument over a patient's mole
Dermatology
An ambulance
Emergency Medicine
Paperdoll-style cutout of family figures
Family Medicine
A doctor and child patient high five each other
Pediatrics
A medical professional writes on paper on a clipboard
Psychiatry
A surgeon and nurse bend over a patient during surgery
Surgery

Specialty Disrespect Should Not Be Minimized

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Specialty disrespect should not be minimized. Your words have real time consequences. Join us in signing the Specialty Respect Pledge, which recognizes your duty to create and sustain a culture of respect for all specialties.

Sign the pledge

Additional Resources

Webpage design by Samuel Chan, Betelhem Eshetu Yimer, Veda N, and Maya Shah