We often think of diversity and inclusion in the context of recruitment and hiring. But even when metrics are met, the specter of alienation and the opportunity for inclusion exist in every interaction, whether with patients or colleagues. Allyship and advocacy are important pillars of what makes for a diverse and inclusive environment. Why do they matter, and how can faculty members steer interactions towards inclusion, and over time, institutionalize practices and policies that foster an environment that is welcoming and safe for learners and patients?
In order to address these questions, it is important to 1) gain self-awareness about our implicit biases and privileges, 2) develop tools to address difficult encounters that are either experienced or witnessed, and 3) recognize that effective advocacy work is rooted in cultivating allyship—in ourselves, and the places we work. Drawing from her own experiences navigating the ramifications of Islamophobia, Suzanne Barakat, MD, will identify actionable steps to effect change in a residency program and hospital institution.
Barakat was born and raised in North Carolina, and earned her bachelor’s degree and completed medical school Hill. She is passionate about women’s health, global health, and social justice. Prior to residency, she conducted research on gestational diabetes and postpartum mental health outcomes in low-income Latina women, contributed to a first-of-its-kind mood screener and mental health assessment of Arabic-speaking communities worldwide, and worked at makeshift polyclinics and state hospitals serving thousands of refugees along the Turkish-Syrian border. She recently completed her family medicine residency training at UCSF San Francisco General and works as a hospitalist, laborist, and outpatient family medicine physician in Oakland, CA. Barakat serves as board chair for Our Three Winners Foundation, a grant-making agency created to honor the humanitarian legacies of her brother Deah and sisters-in-law Yusor and Razan. She has been outspoken about the role of advocacy and allyship in countering the rising tide of and has given a TED Talk on the subject.