An Evaluation of STFM's Academic Family Medicine Antiracism Learning Collaborative.

Abstract

Background and objectives: The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) antiracism task force created and led an Antiracism Learning Collaborative (ALC) to help STFM members identify racist structures and behaviors within their academic institutions and develop projects to become leaders for change. The Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care was tasked with evaluating whether the 2-year program's goals were met.

Methods: Through a call for applications, 20 dyads were accepted for participation. At least one dyad member had to be of a racial or an ethnic population that is underrepresented in the medical profession. Participant involvement took place from January 2022 through September 2023. The following data sources were evaluated: project plans, four survey sets, anecdotal meeting notes, mentor meeting forms, and final reports and presentations from the dyads.

Results: A total of 34 participants (17 dyads) completed the study from 17 institutions. Generally, participants learned several antiracism concepts and how to take steps to counter racist structures and behaviors through actionable approaches and language use. Strengths of the program were the tools and resources offered to dyads for their project implementation. Two major challenges were institutional opposition or lack of support and lack of time (both for dyads and for various local community partners).

Conclusions: Overall, ALC met each goal. Future evaluations of similar initiatives should consider defining what success for individual projects looks like and provide a predefined rubric to gauge success.