Breaking the Barrier: Interdisciplinary Curriculum Empowers Internal Medicine Residents with Gender-Affirming Care and Health Disparities Expertise

In recent years, a successful interdisciplinary curriculum has been integrated into Internal Medicine residency programs, focusing on women’s health, gender-affirming care, and health disparities. Developed by a team led by Janet Henrich, MD, the curriculum emphasizes health equity and interactive learning through half-day modules on interconnected topics.

Over the years, the curriculum has been implemented for approximately 175 residents each year and evaluated through anonymous surveys. The data from 2022-2023 indicated that 90% of the resident respondents felt adequately prepared to apply the skills they had acquired. This upward trend in residents’ comfort with the material is attributed to the interactive teaching methods and direct learning experiences involving community members and peers.

The success of this novel educational approach has set a precedent for similar programs across medical training institutions. The team involved hopes to replicate this success in other medical training programs, emphasizing critical issues in women’s health, gender-affirming care, and promoting an equitable healthcare environment. For further insights, one can refer to the article “It Takes a Village: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Preparing Internal Medicine Residents to Care for Patients at the Intersection of Women’s Health, Gender-Affirming Care, and Health Disparities” in the Journal of Women’s Health authored by Henrich JB, Richman I, Rabin TL, Gielissen KA, Dhond M, Canarie JX