The Liaison Committee on Racial & Social Justice in Medical Education (RSJME) is a student-led committee established in response to Tulane University School of Medicine’s (TUSOM) Call to Action, denouncing the murder of George Floyd and our country’s extensive history of racial and social injustice. Kevin Krane, MD & Elma LeDoux, MD spearheaded the committee’s formation to address racial and social justice in TUSOM’s medical education. An initial meeting with Dr. Krane and Dr. LeDoux and six student leaders took place to reflect, share ideas, and discuss possible effective measures to enhance TUSOM’s commitment to an equitable and inclusive medical education. The Liaison Committee on Racial & Social Justice in Medical Education was approved by the Curriculum Committee on July 8th, 2020, and formally met for the first time on August 14th, 2020. Since its inception, the committee’s primary aim has been to work, with the Curriculum Committee’s support, to enhance education in racial and social justice across the curriculum by reviewing curricular content, providing feedback, and offering recommendations.
Marcus Moses, a T2 MD/MPH student, and RSJME committee chair, worked with Dr. Krane and fellow student leaders to develop the committee’s preliminary structure and representing body, including students, faculty, administration, and staff. Student membership included one representative from each national minority organization at TUSOM (e.g., Student National Medical Association, Latino Medical Student Association, Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association, Medical Student Pride Alliance), one representative from each TUSOM class, two at-large members, and the Owl Club President. Faculty membership included four faculty members (two selected by students and two chosen by faculty), Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions, Assistant Dean for Basic Science Education, Assistant Dean for Clinical Education, and the Director of Multicultural Affairs.
At the committee meeting held on August 14th, 2020, members reflected on TUSOM’s curriculum, identifying the current gaps in medical education with racial and social justice, potential solutions, and the committee’s long-term goals. Two pivotal conclusions were made regarding committee structure and overarching goals. First, the committee’s primary objectives were well-defined. Its goals included (I) developing a proposal for a longitudinal curriculum integrating racial and social justice throughout medical education and (II) establishing long-term roles as initial work and progress is made to continued relevance within TUSOM’s curricular structure. Secondly, three subcommittees named, the Pre-Clinical Education Subcommittee, the Clinical Education Subcommittee, and the Operations Subcommittee, were established to adequately focus on key aspects of the curriculum, such as basic science and clinical education. Three students and two faculty advisors lead each subcommittee. In its entirety, the RSJME committee meets monthly, with organizational support provided by Jonnie Johnson, Senior Department Administrator for the Office of Academic Affairs. Subcommittees conduct additional meetings at the discretion and needs of subcommittee members.