Health Equity Rounds is a solutions-oriented, longitudinal, case-based conference series that aims to confront the effects of bias, racism, and other intersectional systems of oppression on health and healthcare. Similar to a Morbidity and Mortality conference, Health Equity Rounds aims to dissect the “whys” of a clinical story, with the goal of identifying solutions that can improve future care. **We believe medical education is a vehicle to encourage reflection and action towards health equity.** ## Our Impact Now active at dozens of programs across the country, Health Equity Rounds (HER) has catalyzed concrete institutional policy changes as well as engagement in state-level and national advocacy. It has also helped normalize conversations about racism — it has given people a vocabulary, and served as a conversation-starter and locus for community-building.​ HER residents have gone on to present at national meetings and other venues like the [Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)](https://www.aamc.org/ "Association of American Medical Colleges (aamc.org)") and the [Joint Commission](https://www.jointcommission.org/ "The Joint Commission (jointcommission.org)"). Health Equity Rounds conferences have also served as a starting point for residents’ writing, with publications in [*Pediatrics*](https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics "Pediatrics: From the American Academy of Pediatrics (publications.aap.org)"), [*JAMA Pediatrics*](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics "JAMA Pediatrics | jamanetwork.com"), the [*New England Journal of Medicine*](https://www.nejm.org/ "The New England Journal of Medicine (nejm.org)"), and [*MedEdPORTAL*](https://www.mededportal.org/ "MedEdPORTAL: The Journal of Teaching and Learning Resources (mededportal.org)"), among other top academic publications. Additionally, many former members of the team have moved on to fellowship, conducting research, and writing NIH career development awards on topics that they first developed interest in through Health Equity Rounds. ## Curriculum and Objectives A Brief History Objectives and Structure Participants Recent Press and Publications A Brief History Objectives and Structure Participants Recent Press and Publications ## A Brief History Health Equity Rounds (HER) was developed and first presented in 2016 at Boston Medical Center by residents in the [Boston Combined Residency Program (BCRP) in Pediatrics](https://bcrp.childrenshospital.org/ "Boston Combined Residency Program | Boston Children’s Hospital (bcrp.childrenshospital.org)") in response to a lack of longitudinal and interdisciplinary opportunities to engage in crucial conversations about racism in medical settings. The program has since expanded to institutions across the United States and Canada, and now even [has its own series](https://publications.aap.org/hospitalpediatrics/article/13/5/459/191064/Introducing-Health-Equity-Rounds "Introducing: Health Equity Rounds (April 17, 2023) | Hospital Pediatrics (publications.aap.org)") in the journal *Hospital Pediatrics*. At Boston Medical Center, Health Equity Rounds is led by pediatric residents with faculty mentorship. While the initial focus of HER was naming and addressing medical racism, we encourage presenters to use an intersectional lens and to consider how other forms of systemic oppression may influence health and healthcare. ### Example Topics - Pharmacoequity - Mistrust vs. distrust - The role of hospital public safety - Palliative care disparities - Healthcare for LGBTQ+ adolescents [Read more about the initial HER implementation and evaluation (MedEdPORTAL)](https://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10858) ## Objectives and Structure ### Objectives - Identify and analyze the effects of bias, racism, and other forms of intersectional systemic oppression in clinical scenarios - Describe the historical context and present-day role of structural racism and its impact on health and the healthcare system - Employ evidence-based tools to recognize and mitigate personally held biases - Use newly learned strategies to reduce the impact of bias on patient care and combat structural racism at the institutional and societal levels In each conference, we utilize evidence-based tools from social psychology — including individuation, personal reflection, and perspective-taking — to combat the impact of personally held biases on clinical practice. ### Structure 1. Presentation outline 2. Review key concepts and definitions; clinical case begins 3. Review historical context and present-day data that demonstrate how bias and structural racism influence the case 4. Discuss evidence-based tools and next steps ## Participants Healthcare providers from various disciplines, roles, and levels of training may participate in Health Equity Rounds. We educate students and trainees — the providers of the future — as well as faculty and hospital leadership who model behavior and dictate culture and policy in the present. ## Recent Press and Publications - Khazanchi R, Wachman EM, Schiff DM, Modest A, Saia KA, Hsu HE. Mandatory Child Protective Services Reporting for Substance-Exposed Newborns and Peripartum Outcomes: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2024 May 06. [PMID: 38709513](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38709513/ "Mandatory Child Protective Services Reporting for Substance-Exposed Newborns and Peripartum Outcomes: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2024 May 06."). - Rainer T, Lim JK, He Y, Perdomo J, Nash KA, Kistin CJ, Tolliver DG, McIntyre E, Hsu HE. Structural Racism in Behavioral Health Presentation and Management. Hosp Pediatr. 2023 May 01; 13(5):461-470. [PMID: 37066672](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37066672/); [PMCID: PMC10714315](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10714315/); [DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2023-007133](https://publications.aap.org/hospitalpediatrics/article/13/5/461/191065/Structural-Racism-in-Behavioral-Health). - Perdomo J, Tolliver D, Hsu HE, He Y, Nash KA, Donatelli S, Mateo C, Akagbosu C, Alizadeh F, Power-Hays A, Rainer T, Zheng DJ, Kistin CJ, Vinci RJ, Michelson CD. Health Equity Rounds: An Interdisciplinary Case Conference to Address Implicit Bias and Structural Racism for Faculty and Trainees. MedEdPORTAL. 2019; 15:10858. [View Publication](https://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10858) - [Poor Health Is Driving Chronic Absenteeism Among High Schoolers — Here’s How Pediatricians Can Help](https://live-healthcity2.pantheonsite.io/poor-health-driving-chronic-absenteeism-among-high-schoolers-heres-how/ "Poor Health Is Driving Chronic Absenteeism Among High Schoolers — Here’s How Pediatricians Can Help | HealthCity: Health equity news from Boston Medical Center (September 7, 2023)") - [Migrant Children in Boston Deserve to Be Healthy Too](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/12/magazine/migrant-children-deserve-pediatric-health-care/ " Migrant Children in Boston Deserve to Be Healthy Too | Boston Globe (October 12, 2023)") - [Haitian Migrants Face Unique Challenges Finding U.S. Housing](https://live-healthcity2.pantheonsite.io/haitian-migrants-face-unique-challenges-finding-us-housing/ "Haitian Migrants Face Unique Challenges Finding U.S. Housing | HealthCity: Health equity news from Boston Medical Center (January 17, 2023)") - [U.S. Formula Shortage Exposes Deep-Rooted Injustices Across Industries](https://live-healthcity2.pantheonsite.io/us-formula-shortage-exposes-deep-rooted-injustices-across-industries/ "U.S. Formula Shortage Exposes Deep-Rooted Injustices Across Industries | HealthCity: Health equity news from Boston Medical Center (September 29, 2022)") - Wang RY, Anand NS, Douglas KE, Gregory JC, Lu N, Pottorff AE, Hsu HE. Formula for a Crisis: Systemic Inequities Highlighted by the US Infant Formula Shortage. Pediatrics. 2024 Jan 01; 153(2). [PMID: 38196392](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38196392/); [PMCID: PMC10827642](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10827642/); [DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-061910](https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/153/2/e2023061910/196402/Formula-for-a-Crisis-Systemic-Inequities). - Karim SA, DeCelle MG, Hale AE, Spencer DJ, Zhang YJ, Hsu HE, Ballal SA. Implementing Health Equity Huddles in Pediatric Gastroenterology Inpatient Education. Acad Pediatr. 2023; 23(8):1520-1521. [PMID: 37301283](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37301283/). ## Our Team Health Equity Rounds is a trainee-led initiative supported by department leadership, faculty, and content experts. #### Resident Team **Elizabeth Agneta, MD** Boston Combined Residency Program (Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center) **Rohan Khazanchi, MD, MPH** Harvard Associated Medicine & Pediatrics Program (Brigham and Women’s Hospital) **Raquel Selcer, MD** Harvard Associated Medicine & Pediatrics Program (Brigham and Women’s Hospital) **Rita Wang, MD** Leadership in Equity in Advocacy Track Boston Combined Residency Program (Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center) [Learn More about the Boston Combined Residency Program](https://bcrp.childrenshospital.org/) ### Faculty Leadership ### Heather E. Hsu, MD, MPH ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/28f2844d-f761-4931-a463-3c409e5f9a35/Hsu_Heather_MD-MPh_Peds?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) Pediatric Hospitalist; Scientific Director, BMC Clinical Data Warehouse for Research; Founder, BMC Health Equity Rounds ### Main Location [801 Massachusetts Avenue 7th Floor Boston, MA 02118](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?q=801+Massachusetts+Avenue%3Cbr%3E7th+Floor%3Cbr%3EBoston%2C+MA+02118) ### Contact [617.414.4871](tel:617.414.4871) [See Full Bio](/about-us/directory/doctor/heather-e-hsu-md-mph) ### Hannah Barber Doucet, MD, MPH ![Placeholder image for doctor](/themes/custom/bmc_base_theme/assets/images/placeholders/headshoticon-v2.svg) Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician ### Main Location [725 Albany Street Boston, MA 02118](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?q=725+Albany+Street+Boston%2C+MA+02118) ### Contact [617.414.4991](tel:617.414.4991) Request an Appointment ## Request an Appointment Request an Appointment ### Existing Patients Online: [Schedule With MyChart](https://mychart.bmc.org/)By phone: [Call 617.414.4991](tel:617.414.4991) ### New Patients By phone: [Call 617.414.4991](tel:617.414.4991) Close Dialog Refer a Patient ## Refer a Patient Refer a Patient Phone: [617.414.4991](tel:617.414.4991) Close Dialog [See Full Bio](/node/171000) ### Anthony J. Mell, MD, MBA ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/3d2d4a36-1492-4300-9c5c-9d3c0326cc35/Anthony-Mell-2x3?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) Pediatrician; Assistant Medical Director and Health Equity Clinical Lead, BMC Population Health Services ### Main Location BMC, Crosstown Center [801 Massachusetts Ave. 7th Floor Boston, MA 02119](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?q=801+Massachusetts+Ave.%2C+Boston%2C+MA+02119) ### Contact [617.414.5946](tel:617.414.5946) Request an Appointment ## Request an Appointment Request an Appointment ### Existing Patients Online: [Schedule With MyChart](https://mychart.bmc.org/)By phone: [Call 617.414.5946](tel:617.414.5946) ### New Patients By phone: [Call 617.414.5946](tel:617.414.5946) Close Dialog Refer a Patient ## Refer a Patient Refer a Patient Phone: [617.414.5946](tel:617.414.5946) Close Dialog [See Full Bio](/about-us/directory/doctor/anthony-j-mell-md-mba) ### Mark R. Castera, MD ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/0a704ec7-8c05-42b1-8e8e-0c5acea87dc1/Mark-Castera_266_2x3?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) Attending Neonatologist ### Main Location [One Boston Medical Center Place Boston, MA 02118](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?q=One+Boston+Medical+Center+Place+Boston%2C+MA+02118) Request an Appointment ## Request an Appointment Request an Appointment ### Existing Patients Online: [Schedule With MyChart](https://mychart.bmc.org/) Close Dialog Refer a Patient ## Refer a Patient Refer a Patient Close Dialog [See Full Bio](/about-us/directory/doctor/mark-r-castera-md) ## Contact Us If you would like to learn more about Health Equity Rounds at Boston Medical Center or how to start a Health Equity Rounds at your own institution, please email us at . ![Group photo: five individuals standing in a classroom; the rightmost person is holding up a phone showing a sixth teammate who is not present](/sites/default/files/For_Medical_Professionals/her/her-slideshow/BMC-Health-Equity-Rounds-Slideshow-1-Transplant-Equity-2024.jpg) ![Group photo: members of HER Team 2023–2024 (fifteen individuals) on a BMC roof deck that overlooks the Boston skyline](/sites/default/files/For_Medical_Professionals/her/her-slideshow/BMC-Health-Equity-Rounds-Slideshow-2-HER-Team-2023-2024.jpeg) ![Group photo: members of HER Team 2024–2025 (eleven individuals) at a picnic on the Harvard Medical School campus](/sites/default/files/For_Medical_Professionals/her/her-slideshow/BMC-Health-Equity-Rounds-Slideshow-3-HER-Team-2024-2025.jpg) ![Group photo: four individuals wearing surgical masks and lanyards, standing in front of a book case](/sites/default/files/For_Medical_Professionals/her/her-slideshow/BMC-Health-Equity-Rounds-Slideshow-4-Formula-Shortage-2022.jpg) ![Group photo: seven individuals standing in front of a projector screen that displays the words 'Advancing Equity in Youth Overdose Prevention'](/sites/default/files/For_Medical_Professionals/her/her-slideshow/BMC-Health-Equity-Rounds-Slideshow-5-Addiction-Med-2024-horiz.jpg)