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Widge AS, Jordan A, Kraguljac NV, Sullivan CRP, Wilson S, Benton TD, Alpert JE, Carpenter LL, Krystal JH, Nemeroff CB, Dzirasa K. Structural Racism in Psychiatric Research Careers: Eradicating Barriers to a More Diverse Workforce. Am J Psychiatry 2023; 180:645-659. [PMID: 37073513 PMCID: PMC11227892 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20220685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Investigators from minoritized backgrounds are underrepresented in psychiatric research. That underrepresentation contributes to disparities in outcomes of access to mental health care. Drawing on lived experience, scholarly qualitative reports, and empirical data, the authors review how the underrepresentation of minoritized researchers arises from interlocking, self-reinforcing effects of structural biases in our research training and funding institutions. Minoritized researchers experience diminished early access to advanced training and opportunities, stereotype threats and microaggressions, isolation due to lack of peers and senior mentors, decreased access to early funding, and unique community and personal financial pressures. These represent structural racism-a system of institutional assumptions and practices that perpetuates race-based disparities, in spite of those institutions' efforts to increase diversity and in contradiction to the values that academic leaders outwardly espouse. The authors further review potential approaches to reversing these structural biases, including undergraduate-focused research experiences, financial support for faculty who lead training/mentoring programs, targeted mentoring through scholarly societies, better use of federal diversity supplement funding, support for scientific reentry, cohort building, diversity efforts targeting senior leadership, and rigorous examination of hiring, compensation, and promotion practices. Several of these approaches have empirically proven best practices and models for dissemination. If implemented alongside outcome measurement, they have the potential to reverse decades of structural bias in psychiatry and psychiatric research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alik S Widge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge, Sullivan, Wilson); Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Jordan); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Benton); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (Alpert); Butler Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (Krystal); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Nemeroff); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Md. (Dzirasa)
| | - Ayana Jordan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge, Sullivan, Wilson); Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Jordan); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Benton); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (Alpert); Butler Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (Krystal); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Nemeroff); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Md. (Dzirasa)
| | - Nina V Kraguljac
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge, Sullivan, Wilson); Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Jordan); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Benton); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (Alpert); Butler Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (Krystal); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Nemeroff); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Md. (Dzirasa)
| | - Christi R P Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge, Sullivan, Wilson); Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Jordan); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Benton); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (Alpert); Butler Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (Krystal); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Nemeroff); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Md. (Dzirasa)
| | - Saydra Wilson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge, Sullivan, Wilson); Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Jordan); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Benton); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (Alpert); Butler Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (Krystal); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Nemeroff); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Md. (Dzirasa)
| | - Tami D Benton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge, Sullivan, Wilson); Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Jordan); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Benton); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (Alpert); Butler Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (Krystal); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Nemeroff); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Md. (Dzirasa)
| | - Jonathan E Alpert
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge, Sullivan, Wilson); Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Jordan); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Benton); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (Alpert); Butler Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (Krystal); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Nemeroff); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Md. (Dzirasa)
| | - Linda L Carpenter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge, Sullivan, Wilson); Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Jordan); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Benton); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (Alpert); Butler Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (Krystal); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Nemeroff); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Md. (Dzirasa)
| | - John H Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge, Sullivan, Wilson); Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Jordan); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Benton); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (Alpert); Butler Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (Krystal); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Nemeroff); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Md. (Dzirasa)
| | - Charles B Nemeroff
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge, Sullivan, Wilson); Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Jordan); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Benton); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (Alpert); Butler Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (Krystal); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Nemeroff); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Md. (Dzirasa)
| | - Kafui Dzirasa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge, Sullivan, Wilson); Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York (Jordan); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Benton); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (Alpert); Butler Hospital and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (Krystal); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Nemeroff); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Md. (Dzirasa)
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Sperry SH, Douglas KM, Dean OM, Fries GR, Gomes FA, Hosang GM, Morton E, Sandorffy B, Van Rheenen TE, Xu N, Huber RS. Barriers to and facilitators of success for early and Mid-Career professionals focused on bipolar disorder: A global needs survey by the International Society for Bipolar Disorders. Bipolar Disord 2023; 25:379-390. [PMID: 37391923 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.13365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The International Society for Bipolar Disorders created the Early Mid-Career Committee (EMCC) to support career development of the next generation of researchers and clinicians specializing in bipolar disorder (BD). To develop new infrastructure and initiatives, the EMCC completed a Needs Survey of the current limitations and gaps that restrict recruitment and retention of researchers and clinicians focused on BD. METHODS The EMCC Needs Survey was developed through an iterative process, relying on literature and content expertise of workgroup members. The survey included 8 domains: navigating transitional career stages, creating and fostering mentorship, research activities, raising academic profile, clinical-research balance, networking and collaboration, community engagement, work-life balance. The final survey was deployed from May to August 2022 and was available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Chinese. RESULTS Three hundred participants across six continents completed the Needs Survey. Half of the participants self-identified as belonging to an underrepresented group in health-related sciences (i.e., from certain gender, racial, ethnic, cultural, or disadvantaged backgrounds including individuals with disabilities). Quantitative results and qualitative content analysis revealed key barriers to pursuing a research career focused on BD with unique challenges specific to scientific writing and grant funding. Participants highlighted mentorship as a key facilitator of success in research and clinical work. CONCLUSION The results of the Needs Survey are a call to action to support early- and midcareer professionals pursuing a career in BD. Interventions required to address the identified barriers will take coordination, creativity, and resources to develop, implement, and encourage uptake but will have long-lasting benefits for research, clinical practice, and ultimately those affected by BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Sperry
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Katie M Douglas
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Olivia M Dean
- Deakin University and Barwon Health, IMPACT, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University and Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Gabriel R Fries
- Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Fabiano A Gomes
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Georgina M Hosang
- Centre for Psychiatry & Mental Health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary, University of London, UK
| | - Emma Morton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bronya Sandorffy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Tamsyn E Van Rheenen
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ni Xu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China
- Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Rebekah S Huber
- Department of Psychiatry, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Sibener LJ, Kirchgessner MA, Steiner S, Santiago C, Cassataro D, Rossa M, Profaci CP, Padilla-Coreano N. Lessons from the Stories of Women in Neuroscience. J Neurosci 2022; 42:4769-4773. [PMID: 35705494 PMCID: PMC9188381 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0536-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Women have been contributing to the field of neuroscience since its inception, but their accomplishments are often overlooked. Lack of recognition, among other issues, has led to progressively fewer women at each academic stage; although half of neuroscience graduate students are women, women comprise less than one-third of neuroscience faculty, and even fewer full professors. Those who reach this level continue to struggle to get their work recognized. Women from historically excluded backgrounds are even more starkly underrepresented and face added challenges related to racial, ethnic, and other biases. To increase the visibility of women in neuroscience, promote their voices, and learn about their career journeys, we created Stories of Women in Neuroscience (Stories of WiN). Stories of WiN shares the scientific and personal stories of women neuroscientists with diverse backgrounds, identities, research interests, and at various career stages. From >70 women highlighted thus far, a major theme has emerged: there is not a single archetype of a woman neuroscientist, nor a single path to "success." Yet, through these diverse experiences run common threads, such as the importance of positive early research experiences, managing imposter syndrome, the necessity of work-life balance, and the challenges of fitting into-or resisting-the "scientist mold" within a patriarchal, racialized academic system. These commonalities reveal important considerations for supporting women neuroscientists. Through the lens of women highlighted by Stories of WiN, we explore the similarities among their journeys and detail specific actionable items to help encourage, support, and sustain women in neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie J Sibener
- Department of Neuroscience and Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027
| | - Megan A Kirchgessner
- New York University School of Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, New York, New York 10016
| | - Sheila Steiner
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Chiaki Santiago
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Daniela Cassataro
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Marley Rossa
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Caterina P Profaci
- Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037
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