MSDC Hosts First Unconscious Bias Task Force Meeting March 19, 2020

On Wednesday evening, MSDC convened its first meeting of its Unconscious Bias Task Force. The task force was created by the MSDC Board late last year to examine the issue of unconscious bias in medicine in the District, determine what impacts it has on healthcare delivery, and make recommendations to address the issue for the physician community.

In light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the task force had a condensed meeting via Zoom. Chair Matthew Lecuyer, MD, of Children's National Hospital, thanked the participants and outlined his vision for the task force.

Among the items decided at this initial meeting:

• The task force would create a white paper on the topic based on research, interviews, and discussions. The white paper would be released in early December with a draft available to share at the MSDC annual meeting.
• Three key areas that will be consulted are undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, and patient perspective.
• The task force will seek to acquire survey data from different segments to guide their discussions.

The next meeting of the task force will be the week of April 6, with the exact date to be determined. Anyone interested in participating in the task force is encouraged to contact MSDC staff to learn more. The task force roster is below.

• Tamika Augste, MD; Chair OBGYB Clinical Practice Council, MedStar
• Kim Bullock, MD, FAAP; Chair, MSDC Task Force on Family Violence
• Laurie Duncan, MBBS, FACP, MS; Member, MSDC Executive Committee and MSDC Physician Health Program
• Isela Melendez-Carpio, M.Ed., Georgetown University School of Medicine
• Alicia Khan; Medical Student
• Marjorie Williams, MD
• J. Desiree Pineda, MD, FACP; President, MSDC (ex officio)