November 10 , 2009
Medical Faculty Senate Steering Committee
Meeting Minutes
November 10, 2009
Attendees: Emily Fox-Conant, M.D., Emma Furth, M.D., Peter Kanetsky, Ph.D., Michael Levine, M.D., Mitchell Lewis, D.Phil., Jonni Moore, Ph.D., Victoria Mulhern, Deborah Sesok-Pizzini, M.D., Eileen Shore, Ph.D., Susan Weiss, Ph.D.
Guests: Dr. Marjorie Bowman and Dr. Howard Goldfine
Dr. Furth opened the meeting by introducing Dr. Marjorie Bowman, chair of the department of family medicine and community health. Dr. Bowman was invited to present information about unconscious bias. Dr. Bowman noted that she, along with Dr. Alan Wasserstein, has presented this information many times including to search committees. She presented the importance of diversity in increasing the talent pool from which to recruit. It is also important because diverse groups tend to be more creative and effective than homogenous groups. There are viewpoints that state that conscious bias against women and minorities has declined, but that unconscious bias persists. Unconscious bias may be combated with increased awareness.
Dr. Bowman also discussed several schemas as to reasons for unconscious bias. These schemas are deeply embedded generalizations about the environment and stereotyping, which organizes and simplifies complex situations to give people the sense of control. Examples she provided included watching the mother serve the father at the dinner table and watching the father pay the bill at restaurants. This type of schema results in unconscious bias because stereotypes of roles are activated outside of an individual’s awareness. Dr. Bowman also stressed that schemas apply to emotionally neutral categories. For example, when presented with photos of men and women of identical height, both men and women will identify the man as taller than the woman.
Dr. Bowman further discussed that unconscious bias also is a result of presumptive behavior. People make unconscious assumptions about how certain groups do behave and about the way certain groups should behave. She mentioned the Implicit Association Test that is available on Harvard’s website. This test demonstrates an individual’s conscious and unconscious beliefs.
Dr. Bowman ended her presentation by discussing some recommendations including highlighting minority and women exemplars and appropriately staffing search committees that have a commitment to diversity. She also noted that attention to language and behavior is required in all professional interactions.
Dr. Furth the introduced Dr. Howard Goldfine, President of ASEF (Associate of Senior and Emeritus Faculty) for an update to the steering committee. Dr. Goldfine explained that ASEF is now in its 6th year and its membership is all faculty that are 55 years old or older. ASEF has monthly luncheons hosted by Dr. Kefalides on a wide range of topics that are open to all faculty to attend. ASEF has moved in to new office space on 21 Penn Tower with a lounge and touchdown space. Some of ASEF’s current projects are looking into establishing a retirement community for the University and reviewing education portfolios for faculty being reviewed for promotion.
Dr. Furth discussed the first focus group meeting. This initial group said that many faculty didn’t know about the career development initiative or were misinformed about it. The group also felt that some faculty believed the recommended form was mandatory. It was suggested that members of the steering committee clarify these misconceptions at their own faculty and departmental meetings and reiterate that this is an opportunity for a meeting with the chair or division chief to receive and provide feedback.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph Straton, M.D.
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