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Science, Medicine, and Cytology: an educational program of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the American Society of Cytopathology

As our field of pathology continues to grow, our trainee numbers are on the decline. To combat this trend, the ASC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee established the Science, Medicine, and Cytology SumMer Certificate program to improve exposure to pathology/cytopathology with a focus on dive...

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Published in:Journal of the American Society of Cytopathology JASC 2024-07, Vol.13 (4), p.244-253
Main Authors: Gimenez, Cecilia, Balassanian, Ronald, Banet, Natalie, Barkan, Guliz, DeRobbio, Kristen, Henderson-Jackson, Evita, Jenkins, Elizabeth, Kilic, Ayse, Lai, Lisa, Lura, Theresa, Morgenstern, Nora, Mito, Jeffrey, Reid, Michelle D., Rivera-Colon, Glorimar, Stewart, Jimmie, Lowe, Alarice Cheng-Yi
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Language:English
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Summary:As our field of pathology continues to grow, our trainee numbers are on the decline. To combat this trend, the ASC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee established the Science, Medicine, and Cytology SumMer Certificate program to improve exposure to pathology/cytopathology with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Herein, we report our findings of the first 2 years of the program. An online course was developed targeting students who are underrepresented in medicine at the high school and college level. It consisted of several didactic sessions, presenting the common procedures involving cytopathologists and cytologists. Interviews with cytopathologists were also included. Participants were surveyed for demographic information and provided course evaluations. In the first year of the program (2021), 34 participants completed the program, which increased to 103 in 2022. In both years there was a diversity in participant demographic backgrounds; however, only a minority of participants self-identified as being underrepresented in medicine. A vast majority (>85%) of participants in both years were high school or college students. In 2021, 100% of participants stated that the program format was effective and 94% thought the content was appropriate for their level of education; in 2022 the results were similar. In 2021, 66% considered health care as a potential career; this value increased in 2022 to 83%. In 2021 and 2022, 31% and 38%, respectively, considered cytology as a career. Evaluations were excellent, generating interest in cytopathology. Barriers in reaching underrepresented minorities exist and additional work is needed. Expansion to a wider audience may increase outreach. •Pathology faces the ongoing challenge of effectively enriching and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within its training. In addition, pathology is experiencing a decreasing workforce.•The American Society of Cytopathology DEI committee established the “Science, Medicine, and Cytology SumMer Certificate” program to improve exposure to cytopathology focusing on DEI.•Feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive.•What is reported in the manuscript was all done in 2 years with the support of the American Society of Cytopathology (ASC) and ASC Executive Board and the hard work of the ASC staff and ASC DEI Committee members.•We look forward to continuing to develop this program and updating the community on its impact in future years.
ISSN:2213-2945
2213-2945
DOI:10.1016/j.jasc.2024.04.002