National recognition for research promoting racial equality in Medicine at Southampton

Research into race equality in Medicine at Southampton has been recognised nationally by being featured in the British Medical Association’s (BMA) Racial Harassment Charter for Medical Schools - Review.

This project was carried out to address a knowledge gap into how race and ethnicity are understood and experienced in the Faculty.

Head of Engagement and Professor Lucy Green led the project team, including Professor Kathleen Kendall, Dr Alejandra Recio Saucedo, Dr Aude Campmas, medical student Samantha Mills and Dr Gary Hickey (Agora Digital centre).

The study explored staff, student and public experiences of learning, teaching and working in the context of race and ethnicity in the medical school. It involved focus groups and interviews that provided a safe space for people of all ethnicities to have conversations about the culture, reporting mechanisms and their level of trust in reporting processes.

The project, which was funded by Medicine, formed the research part of Samantha’s Masters in Medical Science degree. She said: “My master’s project was one of my first opportunities to explore an area within medicine that interested me. I have always been passionate about advocating for and addressing racial inequality within healthcare, and believe medical schools play a pivotal role in shaping the skills and attributes of future doctors."

The project, which was funded by Medicine, formed the research part of Samantha’s Masters in Medical Science degree. She said: “My master’s project was one of my first opportunities to explore an area within medicine that interested me. I have always been passionate about advocating for and addressing racial inequality within healthcare, and believe medical schools play a pivotal role in shaping the skills and attributes of future doctors."

“However, I feel that for too long these issues have been ignored, or things have been slow to change. Racial disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the killing of George Floyd were two notable events that reignited conversations on the impact of racism in healthcare both nationally and internationally."

“I was keen to bring these conversations closer to home here at Southampton, which I why I leapt at the opportunity to work on this project with Lucy and the wider team. I saw it as a chance to examine in close detail the perceptions and experiences of Medicine students and staff in order to raise awareness of what needs to change."

“It is great that people and institutions such as the BMA are hearing of the work we are doing, and I hope it inspires others. However, there is still a long way to go and the real achievement is when the recommendations of our project come to fruition and we see a real shift in the wider culture, curriculum and educational content.”

Samantha Mills also gave an in-person presentation based on the project titled ‘Ethnicity and culture: experiences of working and learning at a UK medical school’ during August’s International Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) conference in Glasgow. Sam’s presentation received rave reviews and complimented this year’s conference theme which was ‘Inclusive learning environments to transform the future’.

Agora Centre’s Gary Hickey, based in the School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation, says it is important that enterprise units like Agora participate in projects like these. He added: “Agora is all about providing online solutions to engagement and public involvement in research and, to be perceived as experts in the field. It’s important to work on projects and get involved in research."

 “Projects such as this are important as we all need to contribute to making the University a place in which people feel safe, valued and can contribute. We’re always keen to work with colleagues at the University and beyond.”

Medicine at Southampton has a rich variety of staff and students and is already working on ensuring race equality across the medical school. A number of schemes have been initiated to challenge exclusion and promote active inclusion and this project further expanded on that work.

Lucy said: “We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment and this project fitted in very well with our ongoing work to develop a culture where everyone looks after each other and actively participates in achieving equity, diversity, opportunity and belonging."

“By funding this project, Medicine made a significant commitment to building race equality in our community. As well as the reference by the BMA, the report is already having an impact and encouraging positive change around racial equality. The report has been sent to the Medical Schools Council and disseminated throughout the medical school and wider university.”

 The report identified key areas where improvements could be made, including:

•  Swiftly and effectively implementing recommendations through a Race Equality Implementation Group and an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Faculty advisory panel.
• Keeping processes open and reflective.
• Fostering an environment of respectful learning and sharing of culture, support and belonging.
• Improving race and ethnicity diversity in faculty leadership.
• Creating a diverse curriculum for undergraduate medical and postgraduate students.
• Improving reporting mechanisms and trust in the process.

Southampton Faculty of Medicine staff and students are encouraged to express an interest in joining the new Race Equality Implementation Group. For details email Deanmed@soton.ac.uk.

Read the British Medical Association’s (BMA) Racial Harassment Charter for Medical Schools - Review.