Medical Students’ Views on Racism and Health Equity: Thematic Analysis of Reflections From a Public Health Internship

Abstract

This study evaluates a unique internship program hosted by a community-centered research institute in Chicago, IL, aimed at addressing racial health inequities. Developed over a decade ago, the program focuses on enhancing understanding of health inequities, racism, and social drivers of health, improving public health research skills, and increasing interest in serving marginalized populations. During the 8-week program, interns attend lectures and workshops, and engage in media discussions and research projects. The program is assessed through multiple methods; here, we qualitatively examine reflective writing exercises from 69 interns, using thematic analysis. Findings were organized into five thematic areas: (1) perceptions of knowledge at program start, (2) program experiences, (3) short-term change in knowledge and attitudes, (4) future plans, and (5) physician roles. Interns acknowledged gaps in existing knowledge, highlighted the most useful curriculum components, and discussed ways the program enhanced their understanding of racism and social drivers of health, improved their research skills, and inspired plans to engage more deeply with marginalized communities and advocate for systemic change. The study highlights the effectiveness of experiential learning partnerships in enhancing health professionals’ understanding of public health topics and desire to apply new knowledge and skills to improve health equity. It also underscores the benefits of integrating public health education into medical training.