Connecting the Dots: California Initiative to Increase Health Professions Workforce Diversity
The UC Berkeley School of Public Health and the Public Health Institute received a grant from The California Endowment in 2006 for a statewide initiative that focuses on increasing health professions workforce diversity in California. Reports from The Institute of Medicine, The Sullivan Commission, and The UCSF Center for Health Workforce Studies provide ample evidence that increasing diversity in the health professions workforce will contribute to improved access and quality of care. The Connecting the Dots statewide initiative reflects The Endowment’s understanding of the need for a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy in California.
The initiative team is supported by statewide advisory committee of key leaders from academic institutions, provider organizations, and employers from the public and private sector. The inquiry focuses primarily on medicine, dentistry, nursing, and public health, but many findings and recommendations are applicable to other health professions disciplines.
For the last two years, PHI and UCB staff, consultants, and partners have conducted a seven-part, comprehensive inquiry that includes the following:
- A quantitative assessment of the current level of diversity in CA health professions and professional schools, current demographic trends and projections, and data needed to validate meaningful progress. Corresponding report: Diversity in California's Health Professions: Current Status & Emerging Trends.
- Key informant interviews with leaders of health professions education institutions, employers, and regulators to identify accomplishments to date, key issues and challenges, and emerging opportunities. Corresponding report: From the Mouths of Leaders: Challenges and Opportunities to Increase Health Professions Workforce Diversity in California.
- Documentation of 33 exemplary practices in areas such as investment in the pipeline, admissions, institutional climate, faculty recruitment and retention, and reducing financial barriers. Corresponding report: Profiles in Leadership: A Review of Exemplary Practices to Increase Health Professions Workforce Diversity in California.
- An analysis of how the issue of diversity is framed in the California media, and an examination of strategies to better engage specific constituencies and the general public. Corresponding report: If It's a Pipeline, Why Isn't There More Diversity at the Other End?
- Focus group discussions with health professions education students and key informant interviews with under-represented faculty to explore the benefits of diversity in the educational environment. Corresponding report: The Benefits of Diversity: An Exploratory Study.
- An examination of K-12 networks of support in four California communities, with focus on what is needed to build upon successes to date and replicate exemplary practices in other communities. Corresponding report: Increasing the Diversity of the Health Professions K-12 Networks of Support.
- A comprehensive annotated bibliography and literature review of recent research on the issue of diversity. Corresponding reports: Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review (Draft).
Key findings and recommendations from these inquiries were reviewed and discussed at a statewide conference in Los Angeles in October 2007. Input from conference participants helped to refine the recommendations in a set of seven reports (referenced above). These reports support the development of statewide and regional strategies to advance health professions workforce diversity in California.
In the current phase of the initiative, initiative team leaders are engaged in three levels of activities, including: a) presentations at the regional, state, and national level with key audiences to highlight key findings and recommendations, b) strategic engagement of key health professions leaders to facilitate the implementation of targeted recommendations, and c) technical assistance to regional and statewide coalitions who share a commitment to this important societal imperative.
Additional Materials Available (for download)
Please direct any inquiries to the CTD Co-Directors Kevin Barnett, DrPH, MCP, Senior Investigator, Public Health Institute (925-939-3417; kevinpb@pacbell.net) and Jeff Oxendine, MPH, MBA, Associate Dean at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health at (510-642-2414; oxendine@berkeley.edu).
