Medical Education
Medical Education

Specialty Respect

A head and shoulders view of a male wearing a surgical mask with words indicating disrespect superimposed

What is Specialty Disrespect?

“One element of the hidden curriculum, encompassing unwarranted, negative, and denigrating comments made by trainees and physicians about different specialties.” (Alston, 2019)

In the fall of 2020, we surveyed Georgetown medical school students about their knowledge of specialty disrespect and how it has personally affected them. 71 students responded.

31%of respondents states these comments have affected their career decisions
21%of respondents states these comments affected team dynamics within hospitals
38%of respondents stated they had disparaged a specialty
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View the full Specialty Disrespect Gallery

Poster #1:

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“Don’t go into OB/GYN unless you hate your life”

Poster #2:

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“Anesthesiologists are the doctors that didn’t actually want to be doctors”

Poster #3:

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“Emergency Medicine is for people without attention spans/for people with ADHD”

Poster #4:

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“You probably failed your step exam and had to settle for family medicine”

Specialty Disrespect is a Microaggression

Microaggressions are brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative slights and insults (Sue et al., 2007)

Learn how Specialty Disrespect is a Microaggression

How to Respond to Microaggression

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Bystander intervention methods:

  • Distract
  • Direct
  • Delegate
  • Document
  • Delay
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Take A.C.T.I.O.N

  • Next Steps: Request appropriate action be taken and check in.
  • Ask: Clarifying questions to assist with understanding intentions.
  • Carefully Listen: If they disagree with your paraphrase, you could end the conversation or make a statement about their initial comment. If they agree with your paraphrase, explore their intention further.
  • Tell Others: Explain what you observed as problematic in a factual manner.
  • Impact Consideration: Ask for or state the potential impact of such a statement or action.
  • Own Your Response: Own your own thoughts and feelings around the impact.
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Tips to Response to Microaggressions and Bias

Adapted from Diane Goodman

  • Remind them of the rules
  • Restate, clarify, acknowledge, and separate intent from impact
  • Share your process, express your feelings, and challenge the stereotype.
  • Promote empathy
  • Appeal to values or pretend you don’t understand

Learn About the Most Disrespected Specialties

Internal Medicine

OB/GYN

Pathology

Dermatology

Emergency Medicine

Family Medicine

Pediatrics

Psychiatry

Surgery

Specialty Disrespect Should Not Be Minimized

Specialty disrespect should not be minimized. Your words have real time consequences. Join us in signing the Specialty Respect Pledge, which recognizes your duty to create and sustain a culture of respect for all specialties.

Sign the pledge

Additional Resources