Chigoziri Konkwo1, Elizabeth Fitzsousa2, Shin Mei Chan3, Muzzammil Muhammad3, Nientara Anderson4, Anna Reisman5. 1. Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA. chigoziri.konkwo@yale.edu. 2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 3. Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Yale School of Medicine's (YSM) Sterling Hall of Medicine (SHM) has historically been lined with large oil paintings of mostly White men, despite over a century of Black and female enrollment. These spaces can be seen as exclusionary to students underrepresented in medicine, and may result in decreased well-being and adversely affect academic performance. Student-led activism has resulted in recent changes to these walls, including the addition of images of women faculty, and artwork by students, faculty, and staff. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate how recent changes to longstanding historical portraiture in SHM affected students' reflections on being in that space. DESIGN: This was a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews conducted virtually. PARTICIPANTS: Second- to fourth-year YSM medical students were interviewed. APPROACH: Qualitative interviews were used to gauge students' impressions of how they perceived both the original and updated artwork and portraiture, as well as the overall physical environment. KEY RESULTS: Nine interviews were conducted, with interviewees describing the portraiture as reflective of YSM's institutional values. They related this to other aspects of an exclusionary environment, and noted that they created belonging at YSM within smaller communities. Students recognized and expressed appreciation for the changes to the portraiture, particularly the increase in diverse representation, and they noted stark contrasts to the prior space. While they describe positive attitudes regarding changes in SHM's exhibited portraiture and art, they also expressed skepticism about whether these changes were performative or whether they reflected true commitment to reform. CONCLUSIONS: This study depicts how the portraiture and physical environment of a medical school affects medical students, and that interventions to reform institutional portraiture can have considerable impact on students' attitudes regarding their medical school experiences.
BACKGROUND: Yale School of Medicine's (YSM) Sterling Hall of Medicine (SHM) has historically been lined with large oil paintings of mostly White men, despite over a century of Black and female enrollment. These spaces can be seen as exclusionary to students underrepresented in medicine, and may result in decreased well-being and adversely affect academic performance. Student-led activism has resulted in recent changes to these walls, including the addition of images of women faculty, and artwork by students, faculty, and staff. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate how recent changes to longstanding historical portraiture in SHM affected students' reflections on being in that space. DESIGN: This was a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews conducted virtually. PARTICIPANTS: Second- to fourth-year YSM medical students were interviewed. APPROACH: Qualitative interviews were used to gauge students' impressions of how they perceived both the original and updated artwork and portraiture, as well as the overall physical environment. KEY RESULTS: Nine interviews were conducted, with interviewees describing the portraiture as reflective of YSM's institutional values. They related this to other aspects of an exclusionary environment, and noted that they created belonging at YSM within smaller communities. Students recognized and expressed appreciation for the changes to the portraiture, particularly the increase in diverse representation, and they noted stark contrasts to the prior space. While they describe positive attitudes regarding changes in SHM's exhibited portraiture and art, they also expressed skepticism about whether these changes were performative or whether they reflected true commitment to reform. CONCLUSIONS: This study depicts how the portraiture and physical environment of a medical school affects medical students, and that interventions to reform institutional portraiture can have considerable impact on students' attitudes regarding their medical school experiences.
Authors: Rachel R Hardeman; Julia M Przedworski; Sara Burke; Diana J Burgess; Sylvia Perry; Sean Phelan; John F Dovidio; Michelle van Ryn Journal: J Natl Med Assoc Date: 2016-09-24 Impact factor: 1.798