Perceived Discrimination, Harassment, and Abuse in Physician Assistant Education: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Reducing the prevalence of discrimination in PA education requires recognition of this issue and targeted efforts to ensure that the infrastructure of every program is inclusive and values diversity of all kinds. The authors advocate that PA programs discuss their current institutional reporting structure; develop a universal curriculum on workplace violence, discrimination, and harassment; and develop value statements that explicitly identify diversity and equity as a core value as an important first step to improving the overall "climate" and culture of the program.

Exploring the Professional Identity Formation of Racial/Ethnic Minoritized Physician Assistants

“…In another recent study, Black/African American PAs reported experiencing bias from administrators, faculty colleagues, and students. 21,22 The high prevalence of discrimination despite the low level of reporting these issues raises larger questions about psychological safety in the PA profession.…”

Reframing Physician Assistant Student Mistreatment Through the Lens of Intersectionality

“…In a predominantly female and non-Hispanic White profession, it is critical to recognize the harmful ramifications mistreatment has on the personal and professional lives of PA students from marginalized backgrounds, including a higher likelihood of stress, attrition, and isolation from their peers and program. 4 The repercussions of these negative experiences trickle down, casting adverse consequences on the diversity of the PA workforce pipeline, and ultimately, on patient care. We believe that PA student mistreatment cannot be comprehensively conceptualized and dissected without viewing power systems and dimensions of discrimination from an intersectional lens.…”

“…1 Like many other health professions, physician assistant (PA) education has identified areas of injustice within educational spaces where minoritized students are disproportionally mistreated. 3–5…”

Assessing Harmful Bias and Celebrating Strength Through the Narratives of Black/African American Physician Assistant Students

“…The PA profession has established a framework of knowledge about creating a diverse matriculant pipeline, identifying the struggles and perceived deficiencies of minority students, and establishing the value of minority PAs in medicine. [7][8][9][10] However, much of the research uses a deficit model, utilizing statistics to generalize all underrepresented minority students into one broad category. This approach can overlook a minority group's unique qualities and the experiences that contribute to success.…”