Expert: Black Students Face Unique Challenges When Entering Considering Pharmacy Residency Programs

Expert: Black Students Face Unique Challenges When Entering Considering Pharmacy Residency Programs

Pharmacy Times interviewed Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, MPH, AAHIVP, and Tyler M. Kiles, PharmD, BC-ADM, regarding their discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in pharmacy during the 2023 American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Annual Meeting. Abdul-Mutakabbir and Kiles emphasized practical recommendations for addressing DEI, encompassing initiatives such as promoting education on inequities, identifying and rectifying disparities, implementing interventions, and advocating for ongoing diversification within the pharmacy profession. They highlighted the importance of exposing and addressing barriers for vulnerable populations to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment for all.

Expert: Black Students Face Unique Challenges When Entering Considering Pharmacy Residency Programs

Expert: Black Students Face Unique Challenges When Entering Considering Pharmacy Residency Programs

In response to Pharmacy Times’ inquiry about key factors discussed in their presentation, Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir detailed the multifaceted nature of their approach. She outlined her focus on assessing DEI across the pharmacy profession, starting with an examination of diversity in the United States and the accompanying health disparities. Abdul-Mutakabbir stressed the need for pharmacists to confront these issues, acknowledging the existing systems of oppression within the profession itself. She delved into topics such as cultural competency, patient-provider concordance, and the impact of lacking diversity within the profession on patient outcomes and enrollment in pharmacy programs.

Expert: Black Students Face Unique Challenges When Entering Considering Pharmacy Residency Programs

Abdul-Mutakabbir also explored post-degree employment disparities, particularly for Black and female pharmacists, emphasizing the intersectionality of these challenges. Her presentation covered issues related to postgraduate training, recruitment disparities, and the recent alarming increase in match rates for non-minoritized compared to minoritized applicants. She addressed limitations and barriers to diversifying the clinical pipeline, including the trauma experienced by minoritized students, faculty and leadership diversity issues, financial constraints, and the importance of supportive mentorship.

Concluding her presentation, Abdul-Mutakabbir provided actionable recommendations, including the promotion of education on inequities, the identification of disparities through data collection, the implementation of interventions with a focus on recalibration and improvement, and advocacy for continued diversification. She emphasized the crucial role of advocates in standing against disparities to prevent their perpetuation in the pharmacy profession.

In the subsequent segment of the presentation, Dr. Kiles was set to share her original research, providing on-the-ground insights into disparities, creating a comprehensive and impactful discussion on DEI in the field of pharmacy.

Expert: Black Students Face Unique Challenges When Entering Considering Pharmacy Residency Programs

Expert: Black Students Face Unique Challenges When Entering Considering Pharmacy Residency Programs