Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Geriatrics Education

The population of older adults in the United States is becoming increasingly more diverse. At the same time, there are vast health disparities among groups of older adults. Given this, issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are even more relevant for geriatric care. Healthcare professionals must be versed in DEI themes; however, such training in geriatrics medical education is rare. Incorporating DEI themes can take several forms, such as reevaluating information taught in geriatrics didactics, increasing representation of people of diverse backgrounds in teaching cases and clinical encounters, and introducing longitudinal experiential learning with marginalized communities. As curricular reforms are made, it is important to ensure that marginalized communities participate in the creation and implementation of educational activities, faculty are adequately trained to address DEI issues, and learners are protected from discrimination during activities and evaluation. Education alone is not sufficient to combat the health inequities seen in older adulthood; training must be accompanied by multilevel, systemic change.