Open AccessMaking the case for workforce diversity in biomedical informatics to help achieve equity-centered care: a look at the AMIA First Look Program
Author(s) -
Tiffani J Bright,
Karmen S. Williams,
Sripriya Rajamani,
Victoria L. Tiase,
Yalini Senathirajah,
Courtney Hebert,
Allison B. McCoy
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of the american medical informatics association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.614
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-974X
pISSN - 1067-5027
DOI - 10.1093/jamia/ocab246
Subject(s) - workforce , informatics , health informatics , equity (law) , diversity (politics) , medical education , health administration informatics , internship , health equity , health care , medicine , nursing , political science , public health , law
Developing a diverse informatics workforce broadens the research agenda and ensures the growth of innovative solutions that enable equity-centered care. The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) established the AMIA First Look Program in 2017 to address workforce disparities among women, including those from marginalized communities. The program exposes women to informatics, furnishes mentors, and provides career resources. In 4 years, the program has introduced 87 undergraduate women, 41% members of marginalized communities, to informatics. Participants from the 2019 and 2020 cohorts reported interest in pursuing a career in informatics increased from 57% to 86% after participation, and 86% of both years’ attendees responded that they would recommend the program to others. A June 2021 LinkedIn profile review found 50% of participants working in computer science or informatics, 4% pursuing informatics graduate degrees, and 32% having completed informatics internships, suggesting AMIA First Look has the potential to increase informatics diversity.