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336 - Charting the Use of Inclusive Language in Medical School Diversity Mission Statements: A National Study

Friday, February 28, 2025

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM MST

Presenting Author(s)

JS

Jared Stowers, MD

Resident Physician
National Rehabilitation Hospital - - Washington, DC
Arlington, Virginia, United States

Co-Author(s)

AM

Aditi Mahajan, BS, MEd

Medical Student
Georgetown University School of Medicine - 3900 Reservoir Rd NWWashington D.C., DC 20007UNITED STATES - Washington D.C., DC
Washington, DC, District of Columbia, United States
KA

Khaleel Atkinson, BS

Medical Student
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Laura J. Malmut, MD

Medical Director of Transplant Rehabilitation, Assistant Professor, Associate Clerkship Director
MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital and Georgetown University School of Medicine
Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Objectives: Improving medical student diversity continues to be a challenge and a priority for medical schools. Mission statements addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion are an initial step to recruiting a diverse student body. The purpose of this study is to explore the use of inclusive language as defined by key demographic variables in diversity mission statements published on US medical school websites.

Design: Diversity mission statements of 158 MD-granting and 41 DO-granting medical schools were examined in 2024. Diversity statements were coded for the presence of inclusive language based on the following demographic variables: race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, ability or disability, and age. Differences in the use of inclusive language between MD-granting and DO-granting institutions and between public and private institutions were calculated.

Results: 169 diversity mission statements were located for 134 (85%) MD-granting and 35 (85%) DO-granting institutions. Inclusive language describing race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, ability or disability, and/or age was noted in 105 (62%) diversity mission statements, while 64 (38%) diversity mission statements recognized diversity without specifically referencing the aforementioned terms. No significant difference was observed in the use of inclusive terms between MD-granting and DO-granting institutions or between public and private institutions.

Conclusions: Most medical schools published diversity mission statements and the majority contained inclusive language. A minority of medical schools did not have a locatable diversity mission statement but did include language supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in their general mission statements.