Exploring the Complexity of Considering Race in the Practice of Medicine

Date of Review: July, 2026

This curriculum explores ‘race-based’ vs ‘race-conscious’ medicine via a single, 90-minute interactive presentation. Learning outcomes include the ability to recognize how race is used as a proxy for genetic determinants of health, to critically evaluate the use of race as an indicator of disease risk or response to therapy, assess the risks and benefits of practicing race-based medicine, and to appreciate the evolving frameworks for considering race in medicine. This resource includes a well prepared and easily modified presentation slide deck, a facilitator guide, and pre/post-surveys. It would be very easily applied to any preclerkship course, with a thoughtful recommendation to share this content after students have already studied the renal and cardiovascular systems so they are familiar with relevant race-based calculators and guidelines. –Cassandra Smith, DO, NCEAS

Corresponding Author’s Email:

shawn.koh@cusm.edu

Institution:

California University of Science and Medicine-School of Medicine

Where was the Curriculum Implemented:

Colton, California

Outcomes that Have Been Reported for the Curriculum:

Self-reported learner attitude

Outcome and Study Design:

Pre/Post

Level of Learner Assessment

Appreciation of content/attitude assessment (self-reflection, blogging with rubric)