Diversity and Inclusion

The Boston Combined Residency Program in Pediatrics (BCRP) links the pediatric training programs of Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center. With Boston being a minority majority city, both hospitals have at their core a commitment to diversity on all fronts including advancing community connection and partnership, reducing inequitable health care outcomes, and promoting and cultivating a diverse workforce that reflects our vibrant community and that fosters inclusive learning environments. This mission is reflected in both institutions operating active, BCRP-engaged offices of equity and inclusion, being designated LGBTQ Healthcare Leaders by the Healthcare Equity Index as well as the robust network of institutional resources dedicated to reaching these goals.

Providing children and families with the very best care requires an understanding of their physical, emotional, and cultural needs. For this reason, we seek diverse residents who possess intellectual curiosity, a passion for medicine, and a compassionate commitment to all patients and their families.

The BCRP embraces all forms of diversity including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic background, gender identity, sexual orientation, and life experiences, like being the first in your family to go to college. We also recognize and celebrate that many of us are a part of several of these communities. We are committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse resident workforce and have outlined the following goals:

• To increase the number of BCRP housestaff from underrepresented groups, broadly defined as listed above.
• To support trainees that are underrepresented in medicine through faculty engagement, mentorship, education, innovation, and resident attendance to national conferences such as SNMA and LMSA.
• To shape the professional development of a cadre of physicians who will become leaders in all aspects of pediatrics including patient care, research, medical education, health care policy and child advocacy.

Diversity Council

The Diversity Council is a robust, resident-led group made up of residents, fellows and faculty who come from underrepresented backgrounds, and their allies. All BCRP-affiliated residents and faculty are invited to join the Diversity Council. The Diversity Council manages its own BCRP-sponsored budget to fund group activities, educational opportunities, and other events at the discretion of its members.

Structure

 The BCRP Diversity Council is led by multiple residents, faculty members and chief residents each year, including the BCRP Diversity Officer, two Associate Program Directors, and a Diversity Chief Resident at each site.  The Council is divided into three working  groups that each focus on an important part of our the Council’s mission and are led by resident and faculty leaders who are dedicated to these ongoing efforts each year.

Working Groups

Recruitment: Focuses on creating an inclusive environment for incoming applicants while also organizing opportunities for applicants to meet resident and faculty members of the Diversity Council.  We offer the following programming each recruitment season to our applicants:

• Diversity Mixers throughout the interview season with residents, fellows, and faculty who are a part of the Diversity Council in a relaxed atmosphere.
• Council Connect!  A program that pairs each applicant with a current BCRP resident via email to answer questions before, during, or after your interview.
• Second Look event for UIM applicants. This will again be funded and held in-person this year!

Social: Works to build community and connection through events with members of the Diversity Council, broadly, in addition to each of affinity groups below. We routinely host events to bring the Council together, including mixers and professional development sessions at faculty homes. In addition, the BCRP has an active group of residents dedicated to support of those with different levels of ability or managing chronic illnesses.

• BCRPride
• BlackCRP
• Raíces/Latiné Residents
• SARI-G (South Asian Resident Interest Group)