The Professional Identities of Black Physicians and Minoritized Physician Assistants: A Cross-Case Analysis

• In Event: Health Professions Identity Issues Related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Abstract

Background: This study compares Black physicians’ Professional Identity Formation (PIF) experiences to those of a group of minoritized PAs.

Methods: Using cross-cases analysis, interview data from 41 Black physicians were compared to 45 minoritized PAs for similarities and differences across the two groups.

Results: Both groups reported the importance of their racial identity in patient care, experiences with microaggressions, and a desire to engage in racial uplift. However, whereas PAs felt they could bring their entire selves to the profession, Black physicians felt splintered.

Conclusions: The culture of medicine signals to Black physicians that they cannot bring their whole selves to the profession. Possible explanations include their internalization of medicine’s discourse of standardization, and medicine’s length of time for training.

Authors

• Tasha R. Wyatt, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

• Nicole Winston

• Sonia J. Crandall, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center

• Robert Wooten

• Chris Gillette