Applying a Framework to Address Perceived Student Mistreatment and Bias: 'LIFT'ing Students in the Learning Environment

Medical students experience perceived mistreatment and bias in their clinical learning environments, which has been associated with multiple negative consequences. The LIFT framework, a communication tool, empowers trainees, educators, clinical leaders, etc. to identify and address such experiences when the impact may be different than the intended goal/message. Medical students are particularly vulnerable within the hierarchy of medicine given their dependence on performance-driven assessments to achieve their career goals. For clerkship and departmental leadership to support students by addressing episodes of perceived mistreatment and bias, learning about these episodes and contexts that students are experiencing is critical to timely intervention. Multiple avenues for students to report experiences of bias to minimize potential or a perceived impact on a student's final grade include direct reporting, peer-facilitated sessions, and both anonymous and non-anonymous web-based applications. An inherent challenge in this process is balancing protecting student anonymity with providing timely, in-the-moment feedback for the individuals/groups involved. Presenters will adapt sample reports of student mistreatment and perceived experiences of bias from our institution to facilitate discussion on sharing best practices to navigate crucial and challenging conversations with relevant stake-holders, utilizing the LIFT framework. Inherent to LIFT is providing growth opportunities for educators, a critical part of continuing medical education and prospectively supporting the learning environment.