The article, “Improving DEIB in Addiction Medicine Training Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Program Evaluation,” has been published in SAj.
In this commentary, the authors state that developing a diverse Addiction Medicine (AM) workforce will improve medical and public health responses to the increasing health risks created by substance use disorders (SUDs). A workforce that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) principles may foster novel responses to address the disparities in treatment and outcomes experienced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who are impacted by SUDs. However, experiences of bias and discrimination in the workplace and a lack of exposure to addiction-related content in educational settings limit opportunities to develop and retain a diverse workforce.
In the AUTHORS’ OWN WORDS, they relate the importance of their work:
“Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine (BUCASM) are among the leading institutions in the field of addiction with nationally recognized addiction training programs, clinical care models, and innovative research programs. These addiction medicine training programs include the Grayken Fellowship in Addiction Medicine (AMF), the Chief Resident Immersion Training (CRIT) Program in Addiction Medicine, the Fellow Immersion Training (FIT) Program, and the Research in Addiction Medicine Scholars (RAMS) Program
In this robust training environment, we describe the creation of a program at BMC/BUCASM which aims to improve and foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within AM training programs.”
“Widening disparities in access to SUD care and increasing opioid overdose rates observed during the COVID-19 pandemic further demonstrate the demand for innovative approaches to recruit and train the future AM workforce. The IDEAAA program is an example of a multidisciplinary multi-pronged approach connecting different age learners in the community with faculty at an academic institution in order to increase knowledge, reduce stigma, and train and mentor future innovators and leaders in addiction medicine.”