Breaking Barriers: A Pioneering Interdisciplinary Curriculum Tackles Health Disparities in Women’s Health and Gender-Affirming Care

A pioneering interdisciplinary curriculum has been successfully implemented in Internal Medicine residency programs to improve education in women’s health, gender-affirming care, and health disparities. Led by Dr. Janet Henrich and developed by a collaborative team of faculty from diverse disciplines including Internal Medicine, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Surgery, and community experts, this curriculum consists of half-day modules on interconnected topics that emphasize health equity and interactive learning.

Since its introduction in 2015, the curriculum has been implemented annually for approximately 175 residents. The impact of the curriculum was evaluated through anonymous surveys conducted between 2022 and 2023. The data showed that 90% of the 131 resident respondents felt adequately prepared to apply the skills they had learned. There was a consistent trend of increased comfort with the material observed across previous years. The curriculum was specifically praised for its interactive teaching methods and direct learning experiences from community members and peers.

The success of this innovative educational approach demonstrates its effectiveness in enhancing resident learning and readiness. The team hopes to replicate this success in other medical training programs to address critical issues in women’s and gender-affirming care education and create a more equitable healthcare environment. For more information, 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” published in the Journal of Women’s Health by authors Henrich JB, Richman I, Rabin TL, Gielissen KA, Dhond M, Canarie JX, Hirschman AF, Windham MR