Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Yale Neurology Residency has taken several steps to ensure that issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion are integrated into all elements of our educational mission.

Our departmental mission includes the following goals:

Foster an environment of belonging and universal respect for all and create a culture that promotes communication and accountability
Promote scholarship that aims to reduce healthcare inequality within neurology, provide community outreach opportunities, and provide opportunities for professional and personal development related to inclusive practice.

The further this mission, the residency program has a structured approach to both education and recruitment and retention. Several specific actions that our program has taken to enhace diversity, equity, and inclusion are outlined below.

Faculty Leadership Roles

Reshma Narula, MD
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Dr. Narula has been the department’s director of diversity and inclusion since 2021 and is responsible for guiding the department’s efforts in the diversity, equity, and inclusion sphere. She is responsible for working with Dr. Moeller and the Chair’s office, and coordinating educational efforts, training, recruitment, and retention. The director sits on the Chair’s cabinet, meets regularly with other department leaders, and serves on several DEI committees throughout the School and GME community.
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Vanessa Cooper, MD
Associate Director of Diversity Education
Dr. Cooper started in this role in September 2021, and her responsibilities include recruitment and retention of a diverse group of trainees. She also works with Dr. Narula to promote education, training, and mentorship, focused on creating a learning environment that is safe and supportive, and enables everyone to grow as scholars and leaders in neurology.
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Education

Formal Training in Implicit Bias, Microaggressions, Bystander and Upstander Roles

Every Yale Neurology resident participates in small-group training on identifying and addressing microaggressions and implicit bias. Trained facilitators lead these case-based sessions.

Health Disparities Clinical Grand Rounds and Morbidity & Mortality Sessions

We have dedicated, quarterly sessions during our Friday noon Clinical Grand Rounds and M&M time slot to focus on patient cases within our clinical environment that highlight elements of health disparities. Patient case discussions are accompanied by a review of the literature and best practices as they related to health disparities, followed by an open discussion. Attendees include faculty, residents, fellows, students, and other clinical staff.

Recruitment

Yale Visiting Elective Scholarship Program to Enhance Healthcare Workforce Diversity in Neurology

This program offers an opportunity for eligible students to spend four weeks in a neurology elective at Yale New Haven Hospital’s York Street campus. Students are offered a choice of elective experiences in general inpatient neurology or the inpatient neurology consult service.

Holistic Application Review and Behavior-Based Interviewing

We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications for residency, and applications are reviewed by a group that has undergone training that includes an in-depth discussion of the sources of bias in student assessment and the residency recruitment process. The application review focuses on how each applicant can contribute to the mission of our program through clinical care, scholarly work, leadership, and ensuring workforce diversity in the neurology community.

During the residency interviews, candidates are asked a series of four standardized, behavior-based questions that are aligned with the residency program mission. These questions are designed to ensure the interview focuses on each candidate’s suitability for the role of neurology resident and their potential as an academic neurologist, as well as mitigate the sources of bias that can affect the interview process.