CLIME Work in Progress: Black/African Americans Residents’ Experience of Racial Affinity Groups in a Pediatric Training Program

Prior literature has shown that experiences of racism are pervasive in the professional lives of trainees who are underrepresented in medicine (URiM), particularly Black and African American trainees, often leading to professional dissatisfaction, feelings of disengagement, and unplanned changes in career trajectories. Understanding the unique experiences of Black and African American trainees is crucial to fostering an antiracist learning environment. In recent years, residency programs have introduced racial affinity groups as a tool to explore racism in their curricula and institutions, support community-building, and promote an inclusive, antiracist learning environment. With this intervention, it is important to understand the experiences of Black and African American residents in racial affinity groups. The aim of this project is to describe and understand the lived experience of Black and African American pediatric residents in racial affinity groups. This work may inform future use of racial affinity groups in residency training by providing a deeper understanding of Black and African American residents’ experiences with them.